Bhubaneswar:
A woman teacher in Odisha sustained critical injuries when an unidentified assailant set her on fire for allegedly refusing to withdraw a sexual assault complaint against an official earlier this year.
The incident occurred on Sunday night at a residential government school at Tikiri of Rayagada district, about 420 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar, when she was watching television along with some children, a police official told IANS.
The assailant allegedly entered the school room, threatened the woman to withdraw the complaint and poured kerosene on her before setting her ablaze, he said.
The 28-year-old victim sustained more than 90 percent burns. She was rushed to a hospital in Visakhapatnam where her condition was stated to be critical, he added.
Police say, she had filed a molestation complaint against school inspector Netrananda Dandsena in July. The accused is absconding since then.
Early this month, a committee against sexual harassment at work place found Dandsena guilty and recommended action against him.
"The district administration suspended the school inspector, a district inspector of school and a police officer investigating the molestation case," the official said.
Police have formed a special team to nab Dandsena and the man who set her afire, he added.
Describing the incident as barbaric and inhuman, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said strong action would be taken against the culprits. He also announced that the state government would bear the victim's medical expenses.