Bhubaneswar: A mentally challenged man was allegedly tied up and brutally beaten by a group of people at Bhubaneswar Railway Station following a dispute over an incident at a shop. The incident, which reportedly took place on August 11, has triggered widespread outrage after a video of the assault surfaced on social media.

The victim has been identified as Bharat Behera of Talagaon under Harabhanga police station limits in Boudh district.

According to reports, Bharat had gone to a shop at the railway station where an argument broke out between him and the shopkeeper over an issue. Bharat allegedly threw some articles from the shop, following which the shopkeeper pushed him.

The situation escalated when several other shopkeepers joined in. They tied Bharat's hands and legs and assaulted him with a plastic pipe. He was also dragged along the platform during the assault.

The beating continued for around 30 minutes before his hands and legs were untied. Some people present at the spot recorded the incident on their mobile phones, and the video later went viral on social media.

Following the circulation of the video, the Government Railway Police (GRP) registered a case under Sections 127(2), 115(2), 296(b), 351(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The GRP is investigating the incident and taking necessary action as per law.

In a statement, the East Coast Railway said it had taken note of the video relating to the incident at a contractor-operated canteen at Bhubaneswar Railway Station. It said the matter had been attended to by the GRP, Bhubaneswar, and that necessary action had been taken.

"The matter is presently under investigation by the agencies as per law," the East Coast Railway said, adding that it was extending all necessary cooperation in the matter.