Girl resisting rape set afire in Bengal

An 11-year-old girl was set on fire by a man who allegedly tried to rape her in West Bengal's Howrah district, police said Thursday. She is now battling for life in hospital.

The incident happened in Salkia area Wednesday night.

The girl is in a city hospital with 60-70 percent burns. No arrest has been made so far.

"We are looking for the prime suspect who is a neighbour of the victim," said Howrah Police Commissioner Ajay Ranade.

The victim's family alleged that the accused tried to rape here and when the minor resisted and threatened to reveal the identity of the man, she was set on fire.

Last month, a 25-year-old woman techie received serious injuries after she jumped off a moving train near Howrah to save herself from the advances of a molester.

Two days later, again in Howrah, a Mumbai-based TV anchor and her female friend were subjected to a similar horror when an inebriated youth tried to force himself on them. To compound the misery, a motley group cheered on the efforts of the man to drag the women out of their car.