VIDEO: Shocking footage of Christian attacked by Hindus and paraded through streets

A Christian man was tortured, had his hair shaved and was paraded through the streets on a donkey - mocking Jesus' return to Jerusalem after 40 days and nights in the desert - by Hindu extremists.

About 200 members of the Bajrang Dal group - a militant group of Hindus - allegedly attacked Awdhesh Kumar Savita, 35, in Jalaun District, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, claiming that he had coerced Hindu men to convert to Christianity which is illegal in the state. He denies the claim.

Savita said that he was taken from his house by the crowd, mauled, had his head shaved and then was paraded through his village on a donkey before he was rescued by local police.

Superintendent of local police told The Times of India that he was rescued around 10pm after he was paraded along a half-kilometre stretch in a village that includes two police outposts. 

Police said five members of the Hindu militant group were arrested on the basis of their identification from a video and photographs showing a crowd manhandling Savita, the Times said.

The police superintendent said that the rest of the group involved in the kidnap, which took place last month, "are currently hiding out" while police are conducting raids to arrest them", according to reports.

He also said that the local police are also investigating counter claims from the Hindu group that Savita had been forcing Hindu men to convert to Christianity.