Eight migrant workers from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district were stripped and paraded on Mission Road in Odisha’s Sundergarh town on Thursday, accused of attempting to outrage the modesty of a local woman, police said.

The incident occurred between 8:30 am and 9 am when local residents tied the workers’ hands, assaulted them, and paraded them semi-nude. The victims were working as masons in Sundergarh, officials added.

Sundergarh Town police arrived at the scene after being informed by locals. The workers were rescued and taken to the police station. Investigations into the allegations and the actions of the crowd are underway.