The disturbing visual, from Kuppam in Chittoor district, shows a woman — identified as 25-year-old Sirisha — tied to a Neem tree and beaten, allegedly over her husband’s debts.
Published Jun 17, 2025 | 2:30 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 17, 2025 | 2:30 PM
Woman allegedly tied up to a tree and beaten for non-repayment of loan.
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh police arrested four members of a family for tying a woman to a Neem tree and beating her, allegedly over her husband’s unpaid debts.
A shocking video that surfaced on social media on Tuesday, 17 June, triggered outrage across Andhra Pradesh. The disturbing visual, from Kuppam in Chittoor district, shows a woman — identified as 25-year-old Sirisha — tied to a Neem tree and beaten, allegedly over her husband’s debts.
The footage, which is accompanied by the noise from her wailing children, quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation. The incident occurred a day earlier and appears to be a case of intimidation and unlawful restraint.
The brutality has since prompted swift police action and intervention from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Kuppam is the home constituency of Naidu.
As the incident came to light, the opposition YSRCP alleged that the assailants were linked to the ruling TDP. However, the police did not mention any links between the assailant’s family and any party.
Sirisha and her husband Thimmarayyappa lived in Narayanapuram a few years ago. However, they fled to Bengaluru three years back, owing to the debt of lakhs of rupees which Thimmarayyappa incurred,” Kuppam Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Parthasarathi told South First.
On 16 June, Sirisha returned to the village along with her uncle and two kids to get their school certificates.
“It was then that Munikannappa and Venkateshamma, an old couple who lent them ₹80,000, spotted them. Together with their son and daughter-in-law, Raja and Jagadeeshwari, they caught hold of Sirisha and tied her to a Neem tree at their house. They threatened her that she had to pay them back or remain tied until her husband returns,” Parthasarathi revealed.
“I received an image from the scene at about 2.30 pm that day and immediately sent out some personnel to the location. There, we found the assailants in conversation with Sirisha, who was released and seated at their residence. We immediately brought Sirisha back to the police station and registered a case,” he continued.
“We have arrested all four assailants, who are now in remand. We have also charged them with attempted murder, wrongful restraint and causing hurt,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who seems to have strongly opposed the incident, said in a press release that he ordered strict action against the assailants.
Delving into the details of the incident, he said he had taken note of the developments. He also identified Munikannappa as the primary assailant, along with his family, in what he described as an “inhuman” act. However, the release did not mention the alleged connection between Munikannappa and the TDP.
Naidu approached Chittoor Superintendent of Police (SP) Manikanta Chandolu to inquire about the action taken.
The SP reportedly informed the chief minister that the accused had already been arrested. Naidu directed officials to take the “strictest action against those who tied a woman to a tree and tortured her.”
While instructing the police to ensure such incidents do not recur, he also ordered officials to support the victim’s family.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
