Lucknow, Oct 2  A rapist in an Uttar Pradesh village was punished in a strange way -- the village heads asked the victim's family to blacken his face and beat him with shoes till he faints or falls on the ground.

According to locals, the bizarre form of justice was delivered Thursday evening in Ghsainwalla village in Amroha, about 300 km from state capital Lucknow.

Sharif, 43, allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl residing in his neighbourhood Thursday morning. He was a resident of Peshthana area of Ghsainwalla village.

"Sharif committed the crime while the girl was alone in her home. He was caught red-handed by some locals after the victim raised an alarm," Raees Ahmad, a villager, told reporters.

"Soon the elders in the village came to know about the incident. The panchayat was convened in the evening. Acting on the directions of the panchayat members, the girl's family blackened Sharif's face and beat him several times with shoes till he fell on the ground," he added.

Police inspector Devendra Singh Tomar told IANS: "We have come to know about the matter today (Friday) from local journalists."

"An inquiry has been initiated and we assure to take strict action against the rapist and the villagers who passed the strange judgement," he added. (dpa)