A woman from Bendalagatti village in Hubli, Karnataka committed suicide after she was allegedly stripped and beaten in public on Tuesday. The reason was that the victim, Ratnavva Karjagi, 30, was accused of helping a married woman elope with a youth.

Sources said that Koteppa Hangal, one of the village patriarchs, had accused Ratnavva of encouraging his daughter-in-law to have an affair with a youth and help them elope. Hangal fined her Rs 20,000.

Even as the punishment was to be announced on her by the village head, his sons and other relatives allegedly attacked her. But, she escaped and ran towards her house stark naked. Her husband, Fakkirappa Karjagi, and her six-year-old daughter were mute spectators to the incident. Despite this, Fakkirappa promised Hangal to pay the penalty amount by Wednesday.

By the time of Fakkirappa’s return who had gone to Kalaghatagi to raise money by selling his cattle Ratnavva unable to bear the humiliation committed suicide. Ratnavva had blamed a few family members of the Hangal family at Kalaghatagi police station.