Agartala, Dec 20 (IANS): A 60-year-old tribal woman in Tripura was beaten mercilessly and left unconscious by some people who accused her of having an illicit love affair, the police said on Sunday.

The woman was rescued on Saturday morning and taken by her neighbours to a hospital where her condition was stated to be critical.

The incident took place in Ujan Chandrapur village under Puratan Raj Bari police station of South Tripura district late Friday evening.

"When the victim was returning home from NREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) work, she was first tied with a tree and then beaten ruthlessly by some locals, mostly women. Later her head was shaved," said S.K. Paul, sub-divisional police officer of Belonia in South Tripura.

Some of the local people accused the victim of having an illicit love affair with a man of her Bhil community. The woman's family members denied the accusation.

Six people, including four women, have been arrested in connection with the incident.