Hyderabad: A 13-year-old girl working as a domestic help was set on fire, allegedly by her employer in Telangana's Mushtafa Nagar, for resisting his rape attempt.
"The 26-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday, based on the statement of the girl, who is battling for life at Khammam district hospital after suffering severe burns," police said here on Monday.
"Though the incident occurred on September 18, it came to light after 17 days on Monday after police received specific information of the girl undergoing treatment for burn injuries at a private hospital," police said.
On that day, the man had tried to molest her and she resisted it.
The son of the house owner then doused the girl with petrol and set her ablaze. She was rushed to a hospital, police said, adding it was not clear who got her admitted.
Additional DCP Pooja, ACP Anjaneyulu spoke to the victim at the hospital and her family members. On Monday night, Khammam CP Tapsir Iqbal spoke to the victim girl.
The family told police that the girl, who came running out of the pooja room after catching fire on September 18 morning was immediately rushed to the hospital.
"The girl would be shifted to another hospital for better treatment," police said.
"No one had approached police till Monday," a senior police official said, adding her statement was recorded.
The man has been booked on charges of attempt to rape and murder.
Police said that the private hospital had not informed them about the incident and action would be initiated against them by health authorities for allegedly hiding the details.
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