A youth in Cuttack was thrashed, tied to a bike and dragged for nearly 2km on the busy streets of the city for not being able to repay a loan of Rs 1,500.

The accused also beat up and threatened those who tried to save the victim.

Two of the accused are said to be friends of the victim who has been identified as 26-year-old Jagannath Behera from Cuttack’s Bidanasi area.

Faced with pressure, police swung into action and arrested the two accused from Sutahat area of Cuttack city.

Lalbag police on Monday evening arrested Sheikh Hussain, 24, and Sheikh Husan, 26, in connection with the incident whose video has gone viral on social media. The victim’s hands were tied to a bike while four to five youths riding two bikes dragged him on the road.

Lalbag police told The Telegraph: “The incident took place on Sunday night. The accused have been arrested under Section 367 of IPC (kidnapping or abducting), 342 (wrongful confinement) 307 (attempt to murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). They were sent to judicial custody after their bail petitions were rejected by the court.

Sources said Behera had borrowed Rs 1,500 from one of the accused but failed to return it on time. Annoyed by his failure to return the money, the accused along with his friends beat him up and dragged him on the road after tying him to a motorcycle.

Behera said he had borrowed Rs 1,500 from his friend after the death of one of his grandparents. He said he was tied to a bike and dragged on the road from Kanika square to Sutahat market, a distance of around 2km.