Tirunelveli (TN) | Six persons were arrested allegedly for assaulting, stripping, and urinating on two youths from Scheduled Caste in the district, police said on Thursday.

The arrested, all in the 21 to 25 years age group, said to be under the influence of alcohol, accosted the youths and asked them to reveal their caste identity, said police.

Upon revealing their identity, the gang of six assaulted, stripped, and urinated on the two who were returning after a bath from Thamirabarani river, said Thatchanallur police, who registered cases under various sections of the IPC including the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

According to the victims, who are currently undergoing treatment at the Tirunelveli Medical College hospital here, the gang robbed them of two mobile phones, silver jewellery and extorted Rs 5,000 from them.

"They appeared to be high on ganja (cannabis). They called us and asked about our caste and native place when we were getting ready to ride our bike after a bath in the river on Monday. No sooner we answered than they began attacking us with sticks and knives," the victims said.

One of the injured had to contact his office to have Rs 5,000 digitally transferred to the gang. Once the money was credited, they took the victim's bike to withdraw money from a nearby ATM.

"However, two of them gave the slip upon seeing the police on patrol and we took advantage of the situation and fled," the victims told reporters.

M Ponmani, S Nallamuthu, R Ayiram, B Ramar, M Siva and Lakshmanan have been arrested, said police.