Krishnaganj: A 35-year-old man threw acid on his distant niece after she refused his sexual advances in Nadia district of West Bengal, police said on Friday.
The incident happened on Thursday night when the 25-year-old victim, who lives with her parents and her five-year-old son, was sleeping.
Being a distant relative and a neighbour, he was a regular visitor to their house at Ghugragaccha village under Krishnaganj police station limits.
The victim had not been living with her husband for the past six months and the accused has approached her several times with an indecent proposal, police said.
Angry with her refusal, he entered the house through an open door on Thursday night when all of them were sleeping, poured acid on her body and face, and fled, police said.
Her son, who was sleeping beside her, was not hurt.
The woman was first taken to Krishnaganj Rural Hospital and then referred to Shaktinagar Hospital.
The woman's father lodged a complaint with the police and the accused was arrested.