A teenage student who was alleged to have eloped with the girl of his dreams paid a heavy price for love.

The 16-year-old was abducted and handcuffed by four men who locked him in a cage at a housing estate in Jerteh on Monday, before taking turns to assault him with a baseball bat.

The assailants struck the Besut Vocational College student on the legs and body during the three hours of 'detention', beginning 9pm.

The four, who had used a car to abduct the teenager from a shop, targeted him for punishment as he was alleged to have eloped with the younger sister of one of the assailants.

Following the 'punishment', the assailants left the victim in Kampung Gong Manok, Kuala Besut about midnight.

The student's mother sent him to the Besut Hospital where he was warded for multiple injuries.

Besut acting police chief, Supt Noorzainy Mohd Noor said the victim lodged a police report, the following day.

He said the police were in the midst of tracking down the alleged assailants to facilitate investigations.