In a brutal incident straight out of Tamil films, a 12-year-old girl was tied to an electric pole for four hours and beaten up at Pattuvampattu in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu yesterday evening, for allegedly stealing money.

The girl was living with her grandmother. Early on Thursday morning, she, along with a 25-year-old woman named Priya, and her family members, went to attend a wedding at Madhanur. On their way back home, they got down at Pallur and began walking towards their village. Priya handed her purse over to the girl and went to attend nature’s call.

Later, when they returned home, the woman found that cash of Rs.2300 was missing from her purse, and accused the girl of stealing it. The woman and her family went to the girl’s house around 5.00 pm, dragged her out of the house for nearly half a kilometre, tied her to an electric pole and began beating her, in full public view, despite the girl’s constant denial.

“The girl was suffering in pain. The woman’s family accused her of stealing Rs.2300, but she repeatedly said that she hadn’t taken it. She remained tied to the pole for nearly four hours, until 9.30 pm,” an eyewitness said.

Sadly, none of the onlookers intervened. No police complaints have been filed, as of now, by the victim’s grandmother.