A disturbing video of three men assaulting a young man in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district has surfaced on social media, showing the victim being beaten with slippers, dragged by his hair, and forced to touch the feet of his attackers while pleading for them to stop. One accused has been arrested; police are searching for the rest.

The victim, 27-year-old Rupesh Sahu, who works at a private company, was attacked on Sunday by a group of men from a neighbouring village in Khartuli under Arjuni police station limits. The men, allegedly drunk at the time, first pulled Sahu up by his hair before launching into a sustained assault. According to police and villagers who viewed the video, the attackers spat on a slipper and struck Sahu repeatedly on the head and face with it, while also raining kicks and punches on him and hurling abuses.

The footage shows Sahu being forced to repeatedly say "sorry" and address one of the attackers as "baap" — father — in an act intended to humiliate him. At one point he is forced to bow and touch the men's feet. In a separate clip that has also gone viral, the accused can be seen slapping him and attempting to strike him with a belt. One bystander in the video appears to reach for what looks like a sharp weapon.

The motive behind the assault has not been established. The accused reportedly uploaded the video themselves to an Instagram story, which is what eventually brought the incident to wider attention and triggered outrage once it began circulating more broadly.

Angry villagers who saw the footage moved to track down those responsible and managed to catch one of the accused, whom they restrained until police arrived. Additional SP Shailendra Pandey confirmed that a case has been registered at Arjuni police station based on Sahu's complaint, and that one accused has been taken into custody while a search is underway for the remaining attackers. The investigation is ongoing.

In a separate and more severe incident, a labourer was beaten to death in Korba on Monday afternoon at a platform beneath a railway overbridge crossing. The victim, who was sleeping off intoxication at the spot, was struck on the head 30 to 35 times with a wooden stick by the accused, reportedly in retaliation for a beating earlier that morning.

Sakti SI Faces Rape, Blackmail Charges

Woman Levels Serious Allegations

A married woman from Sakti, Chhattisgarh, accuses Sub-Inspector Kamal Merisha of rape, capturing nude videos, forcing an abortion, and ongoing blackmail. The duo connected via Facebook three years ago when Merisha served in Dantewada. Their interactions intensified after his posting in Sakti.

Facebook Friendship Turns Sour

Merisha posed as unmarried and promised to adopt her daughter, sources indicated. Physical relations followed during her husband's absence. The woman, mother to a young girl abandoned by her spouse, shared sonography videos confirming pregnancy in January 2024.

Sakti police station handles the complaint, yet faces inaction claims.

Forced Abortion Revealed

Merisha allegedly gave abortion pills without consent, leading to miscarriage. Relations continued post-incident. His wife's call later exposed his marriage and child, shattering trust.

Suicide Bid Follows Shock

Distraught, the woman consumed pesticide in a suicide attempt. Merisha rushed her to MalkhRaoda health centre for treatment. He then blocked her number, prompting her January 29, 2026, complaint at Sakti thana.

Complaints Ignored Alleges Victim

SDOP Sakti took initial probe, but the woman claims four visits to SP and IG offices yielded no action. She shared call logs and videos demanding justice. Police sources confirm ongoing review.

Threat at SDOP Office

On March 28, 2026, Merisha reportedly showed objectionable material outside SDOP office, threatening virality and false cases. Pressured, she withdrew the complaint temporarily. Harassment persisted.

SI Denies All Charges

Merisha calls accusations false, per reports. Dainik Bhaskar tried contacting Additional SP Pankaj Patel, but received no response. No formal arrest or suspension yet.

Broader Women Safety Concerns

Case spotlights police accountability in Chhattisgarh, amid rising complaints against officers. Victims hesitate due to threats. Public demands swift probe.