A 13-year-old girl working as a domestic help was set on fire, allegedly by her employer's son in the Indian state of Telangana for resisting his rape attempt on Monday.
Later, a 26-year-old man was taken into custody based on the statement of the girl who is battling for her life at a private hospital after suffering severe burns, reportedly.
According to the media reports, the teenager suffered 70 per cent burns.
She was hired as a caretaker of a bed-ridden man in a house. Apparently, she has identified the accused. The girl also told the police that the accused's pregnant wife was not in town when he decided to take advantage of the situation. He ripped her clothes in an attempted rape, but when the survivor resisted and tried to get away, he drenched her with petrol and set her ablaze.
Though the teenager suffered the assault on September 18, the crime came to light only on Monday after she regained consciousness and told her parents. Her parents then approached the police.
According to the police officials, the accused fled the spot after the crime, and it was his family that had admitted the victim into the hospital and tried to bury the matter.
The accused's family first tried to keep the matter under covers but later informed the girl's family that she had suffered burns during an 'accident' while at work in their home. The crime remained unreported as the teenager was unconscious.
The police have recorded her statement in the presence of a magistrate and has said that the girl would be shifted to another hospital for better treatment.
Police said that they would also initiate action against the private hospital where the girl was undergoing treatment as they had failed to report the matter.
Talking to the media, a senior official said: "No one had approached police till Monday." He added that the teen's statement was recorded and the accused has been booked on charges of attempt to rape and murder.
