A woman in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district was allegedly set on fire by a youth after she resisted sexual harassment by the accused, police said on Sunday.
The victim is admitted to the district hospital with burn injuries.
The victim, a resident of Tambour area of Sitapur, had recently approached police with a written complaint that she was being sexually harassed by a local youth, police said. On December 1, the accused youth along with his brother attacked the woman and set her on fire, said Additional Superintendent of Police Sitapur Madhuvan Singh.
"When she went to the sugarcane field to relieve herself, the youth along with his brother poured kerosene oil on her and set her on fire," said Mr. Singh.
One of the two accused have been arrested, said SP Prabhakar Chaudhary.
The local station officer Om Prakash Saroj was suspended for failing to take action when the woman, who is said to be 19-20 years of age, approached the police.
A case has been registered under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 326 ( voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The victim was living in her maternal house when the incident took place and had been married last year. Police said they also found a romantic link between the accused and the victim.
The matter is being probed by the additional SP.
