A video of some people mercilessly thrashing an alleged hooch trader in Saran went viral on Tuesday, throwing up questions about whether Bihar had developed a problem of liquor vigilantism just as cow vigilantism is turning out to be a burning issue in many parts of the country.

The video, which was also tweeted by news agency ANI, shows a man in his undershirt tied to a tree with a rope around his waist howling in pain and begging for mercy as a man slaps him and another man hammers him with a stick. Another man, allegedly the tied-up man's accomplice, is seen sitting with his arms tied. Saran police are yet to take action over the video, which is said to have been filmed on Monday at Dudhaila village under Daudpur police station of the district, 80km north of Patna. In fact, the cops don't even know that such a video exists.

Daudpur police station house officer (SHO) Amarjeet Kumar Rai said a few local residents had handed over two men to the police on Monday and the duo, identified as Rajesh Kumar Rai and Rambabu Sah of Kopa village under Revelganj police station around 9km from Dudhaila, was arrested.

"As far as the beating is concerned, I am not aware about this," the SHO said. "However, residents of Dudhaila village had brought these two men to the police station and around eight litres of illicit liquor had been recovered from their possession. The duo was crossing a field on a motorbike when some young men of the village stopped them on suspicion. The storage box of the bike was searched and a plastic gallon containing the liquor was recovered. So far the police have not come across any video showing one of them getting bashed up; hence no one other than the duo has been nabbed."

Saran superintendent of police (SP) Pankaj Kumar Raj corroborated the SHO's version. "We do not have any information about the men being beaten up," the SP said. "However, the police will be holding an investigation and action will be initiated against those involved in the act if such is the case."

Local residents said the beating was necessary.

"The police don't act on tip-offs about bootleggers and illicit liquor manufacturers," alleged Dudhaila resident Anil Kumar. "There have been instances when information about the identify and whereabouts of a bootlegger is passed to the cops and they warn the criminals and also divulge details of the informant. This results in those criminals attacking the informers. Yesterday (Monday), when we caught them carrying liquor, we couldn't control our rage. Rajesh Kumar Rai has been actively involved in this business and hence he was thrashed. They were then taken to the police."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, fumed: "Such men brew illicit liquor and roam around freely from one village to another selling them to people. How can it be that they are never caught by the police?"

The Telegraph had reported last month about hooch sellers in the riverine areas of Revelganj brewing and selling liquor on boats.