Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: A self-styled godman and his disciple were roughed up by a mob at Soro in Balasore after a woman, who was allegedly treated by him, died.

Yesterday, police rescued the duo from the mob's clutches and took them into custody.

Dinabandhu Nayak, 67, hailing from Satkosia near Thakurmunda in Mayurbhanj district, and his disciple, Sarat Barik, 50, of Oupada in Balasore district had performed some rituals at Gulunia village of Manipur gram panchayat in Soro police limits to - what they claimed - ward off evil spirits.

But, tension erupted at the village after Sushila Khilar, 52, whom Nayak was allegedly treating, died on Friday night. Nayak was treating both Sushila and her daughter-in-law, Ambika, for some ailments, the deceased's family members did not disclose. In the process, Sushila died. Such an incident infuriated the villagers, who beat up Nayak and Barik after holding them responsible for it.

Acting on a tip-off, the police rushed to the spot and rescued the duo from the villagers' confinement.

Nayak, however, claimed that he had given herbal medicines to both Sushila and Ambika.

'I don't know why the medicine did not work in case of Sushila, while Ambika got fully cured,' a villager said quoting Nayak.

Soro police station inspector in-charge Kartik Malik said: 'The baba and his disciple were taken into custody. However, no formal complaint was received against them. The matter is under investigation.'