A 42-year-old housewife was assaulted, her hair chopped, and she was stripped by some villagers, including women, in Jalpaiguri district on Wednesday evening.

Sources said the villagers tortured the woman accusing her of having an illicit relationship.

Police have arrested seven persons.

“On the evening of June 14, some villagers spotted a youth entering the woman’s house when she was alone. Her husband was away on some errand. This made the villagers accuse her for having illicit relations with the youth and they dragged them out of the house, fastened them with trees and beat them up,” said a source.

“Later, they were handed over to the police. As there was no complaint against them, the duo was released on Tuesday,” the source added.

After facing such humiliation, the woman went to her parents’ place.

According to sources, the woman was intercepted by some villagers, including women, when she returned to the village with her husband on Wednesday. “They started beating her up while some others chopped her hair and also tore her clothes. After some time, she somehow managed to get inside her house,” said a source.

“A section of neighbours went on hurling abuses at her and said she might face dire consequences,” the source added.On Thursday morning, the woman’s husband lodged a police complaint accusing 11 persons of torturing his wife.

“Seven persons have been arrested following the complaint. Our officers are investigating the case and other accused will also be arrested soon,” said Debarshi Dutta, the superintendent of police of Jalpaiguri.