VARANASI, Oct. 26 -- Suspicions of engaging in exorcism led to the brutal beating of two people in Kharhara village under Jugail police station area of Sonbhadra district a few days ago, police said. Their feet were allegedly tied after which the duo was beaten with sticks and staffs. Two people have been arrested in this connection. The incident came to light after a video of the incident went viral on social media, a senior police officer said. The officer said that a resident of Raspahari (Billi-Markundi) in the Obra area, along with a friend from Sinduria Tola Bakhraud in Chopan area, went to Devkhar (Kharhara) village in Jugail area on October 16. They also carried a chicken with them for dinner. Upon reaching there, they came to know that a relative, whose house they were going to, had gone somewhere. As the relative was not home, they went to a pond and lit a fire on its bank on the outskirts of the village and began roasting the chicken. Some villagers suspected the two were practising witchcraft. The pond where they were cooking the chicken is said to belong to the former village head, Lallu alias Ramvilas, said police. Some locals informed Lallu about the incident. Lallu allegedly asked the locals to bring the two. Five or six villagers then reached the spot, wherein the two were cooking chicken, tied the two men's feet and beat them brutally with sticks, said police. It was alleged that they were held hostage from noon until 4 pm, and assaulted intermittently. Somehow, they managed to escape and went to the hospital for treatment. They filed a complaint with the police on October 18. Based on the complaint, a case was registered against five people under relevant sections of the BNS and SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) act and two people were arrested, said police. Circle officer, Obra, Harsh Pandey, who inspected the spot on Saturday, said, "A case was registered in this regard on October 19. Two accused were arrested. Teams have been pressed into action to ensure the arrest of the remaining accused. Medical examination of the victims was done and their statements were recorded. The injuries were found to be of a minor nature."...