Keonjhar: A woman narrowly escaped being strangulated by her husband, when he brutally beat her and hung her from a tree in an attempt to murder her here, last night.

The incident occured in Nadua village under Ghasipura police limits. According to reports, Pramod Dehury and his first wife were living separately after a domestic fight. While Pramod and their daughter were living together, his first wife was staying with her parents.

In the meantime, Pramod got married for the second time and later persuaded his first wife to return home. However, he, along with few others thrashed her last night and hung her to a tree in the nearby forest.

But the branch of the tree snapped and she crawled to the side of the road, where she was rescued by an elderly man and admitted to Anandpur Sub-Division Hospital in a critical condition.

"It was dark when the incident occured. By the time I gained consciousness, it was daybreak. He hung me to a tree in the night and left me there," said the victim.

Dr. Sapan Das of Anandpur Sub-Division Hospital informed that the woman had sustained injuries on her chest and legs and was in a stable state after undergoing treatment. X-ray will be conducted and she has been kept under observation, he added.

Ghasipura police station IIC Biranchi Bag said that a probe has been initiated into the matter. According to police sources, Pramod and an accomplice are currently absconding.