New Delhi, June 20 -- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has taken suo motu cognizance of a disturbing media report involving the public assault of a woman by a moneylender in Narayanapuram village, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.

The incident, which occurred on June 16 , reportedly saw the woman tied to a tree and brutally beaten in full view of villagers--punished for her husband's failure to repay a long-standing debt.

NHRC stated that according to the media account published on June 17, the woman's husband had borrowed Rs 80,000 from a local moneylender nearly three years ago.

Over time, he is said to have incurred additional debts from other villagers. With repayment overdue and mounting pressure, he allegedly...