Malda, West Bengal:
A woman in her 30s was tied to a tree and thrashed by a mob which suspected her family of murdering a quack from a neighbouring village in West Bengal's Malda district.
The quack, Abdul Sattar, a resident of Deotala village in the Gajole police station area, reportedly received a telephone call yesterday evening and left to attend a patient. He then disappeared. His body was spotted this morning near the home of the woman in Murgimari village some 10 km away.
Angry villagers dragged out the woman, who was the only occupant of the house at that moment, and started beating her up after tying her to a tree.
A huge police force rushed to the spot to rescue the woman. But the villagers resisted and scuffled with the police.
A male relative of the woman who arrived on the spot was also caught and thrashed by villagers who had gathered there in the thousands.
As the situation spun out of control, the administration deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) which took at least one hour to rescue the woman and her male relative.
The two were admitted to the Gajole Health Centre.
In protest, villagers blocked the Malda Balurghat state highway for almost three hours.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Uttam Ghosh reached the spot and assured the villagers he would find the quack's killer within 48 hours. The villagers then dispersed.
The woman and her male relative are being treated at the health centre. Their condition is reportedly stable.