Hubballi: A godman was thrashed by the public in Chikkanargund village in Gadag district on Saturday for allegedly trying to rape a woman under the pretext of performing a ritual.

Villagers claimed that Siddappa Sri alias Siddappa Savalgi, an alleged black magic practitioner in Revanasiddeshwar Mutt in the village, walked into the house of a woman in the vicinity two days ago, and attempted to rape her, claiming that it was part of a ritual.

When news of the alleged rape attempt spread across the village on Saturday, residents hauled Siddappa out of the mutt, tied him up to a tree and beat him up. Nargund police sub-inspector Talwar said the woman has registered a case against the godman. Siddappa has filed a counter complaint against her husband for allegedly assaulting him.

(Inputs: TOI)