Dalit girl tied to tree, beaten for 'stealing' in Uttar Pradesh; shopkeeper held after video goes viral

Deoria: A man was arrested for allegedly tying a Dalit girl to a tree and beating her after he apparently caught her stealing from his shop in a village here, police said on Monday.

The action came after a purported video of the incident, which allegedly took place in Mishrauli village under Tarkulwa police station limits, when viral on social media.

According to police, accused Harikesh Gupta, who runs a grocery shop in the village, allegedly caught a 14-year-old girl over suspicion of theft from his store.

Family members and villagers alleged that Gupta first dragged the girl by her hair through the village and later tied her to a neem tree outside his house and assaulted her.

A video of the incident was recorded by a bystander and later circulated on social media.

Police said they received information about the incident through the emergency helpline 112 on May 31 and reached the spot, and the girl was subsequently rescued.

The victim belongs to a Scheduled Caste community, police said.

A case was registered against Gupta under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and he was arrested.

Circle Officer Sunil Kumar Reddy said police took cognisance of the matter after receiving information that a shopkeeper was forcibly questioning a girl over suspicion of theft.

"The accused has been taken into custody and further legal proceedings are underway," the officer said.