Were any of the righteous predecessors (Salaf) among those who used to strike the people of innovation and desires?

Denouncing evil has three levels: by hand, then by tongue, then by heart, which is the weakest of faith. Innovations (bidʻah) are among the evils that must be denounced. Denouncing innovation has five stages: clarifying by explaining the correct view with evidence, admonishing with good words, rebuking and warning of punishment, preventing by force, and warning and threatening with physical chastisement that amounts to ta'zir (disciplinary punishment). This last level is for the Imam or with his permission. Scholars have explicitly permitted humiliating an innovator by not praying behind him or over his funeral, and by not visiting him if he falls ill. It was not known for the early Muslims (Salaf) to strike people of innovation except by those in authority, such as what Umar ibn al-Khattab did with Subaygh.