The police in Jabalpur have booked a truck owner who allegedly stripped three of his workers and beat them up, after accusing them of stealing diesel, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday. The truck owner’s friend was also booked. The police are looking for both the accused.

The accused reportedly beat up the three men, all residents of Mandla district, on Wednesday night. The victims had allegedly stolen 120 litres of fuel, according to Times Now.

The police filed a case after a video of the incident went viral on social media. They said a medical examination of the victims had been done.

The men were scared to file a case initially, but the police assured them of safety, Bhuvneshwari Chauhan, who is in charge of Sanjeevani Nagar police station, told the Hindustan Times.

In the video, the truck owner is seen abusing and beating the men with what appears to be a baseball bat. His friend, who was shooting the video, is heard saying they would have to suffer as they had committed the crime of stealing diesel, according to the Hindustan Times.

The accused were booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.