By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A mentally challenged woman was brutally beaten by a group of people on suspicion of being a thief in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, police said on Sunday.
No arrest has been made so far.
The video of the assault on the woman, who is approximately 50 years old, went viral on social media, causing a stir in the area. Based on a complaint filed by the woman’s family, a case has been registered against six accused and an investigation has been launched.
According to the sequence of events, the mentally ill woman, a resident of the Labor Colony in the Ranipur area, entered a house in the colony. The residents mistook her for a thief and raised an alarm. People from the surrounding area gathered and, without knowing the facts, began assaulting the woman after tying her with a pole.
The woman screamed loudly and pleaded to be released, but no one showed her any mercy. Meanwhile, someone filmed the beating and posted the video on social media.
When the victim’s family learned about the incident, a fight also broke out between them and the accused.
After the video went viral, senior police officials took cognizance of the matter and ordered immediate probe.
The victim’s son has also filed a complaint at the Ranipur police station, demanding strict action against the accused.