New Delhi  - A 10-year-old boy was assaulted, stripped naked, chained and dragged several metres by shopkeepers in northern India for allegedly stealing 20 rupees (0.42 dollars), news reports said Tuesday.

The boy named Sainki was beaten by shopkeepers of Dayanand Sagar village, in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh state, about 350 kilometres east of state capital Lucknow, the IANS news agency reported.

A vegetable vendor accused him of stealing the money and a group of merchants set upon the boy, police said.

They stripped his clothes and dragged him for several metres by a chain around his neck, the police added.

"We have initiated an inquiry into the case," local police inspector Brijpal Jakhar was quoted as saying. "Stern action will be taken against all those shopkeepers involved in the inhuman act."

But IANS reported that police were unable to find the four shopkeepers allegedly involved in the incident. (dpa)