Family Of Rape Accused Attempt To Burn 15-year-old Pregnant Victim Alive

A teen rape victim was set ablaze by the perpetrator's mother and sister after he was asked to marry the girl, who was at least three months pregnant, reports said.

The horrifying incident happened in a village near Mainpuri, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. According to the criminal complaint, the victim, a 15-year-old girl, was raped by a 25-year-old man identified by his first name Abhishek from the same village, three months ago, The New Indian Express reported.

However, the girl did not reveal the ordeal to the family. The sexual assault came to light after she developed severe stomach pain and the family found out she was pregnant.

When the alleged rape was brought to the notice of the village council, the accused was asked to marry the victim. After the decision was made in a meeting, Abhishek's unidentified mother and sister reportedly took the girl to their house, poured kerosene over her, and set her ablaze, the victim's mother said in the complaint.

The girl suffered severe burn injuries and was rushed to a local hospital in Mainpuri. She was later shifted to a specialty center in Safai, a city 20 miles away, for advanced treatment. Her condition is critical, according to reports.

A case of sexual assault was registered against the rape accused while the other two suspects face charges of attempted murder. The mother was taken into custody Saturday and cops are on the lookout to nab Abhishek and his sister, The Times of India reported.

The officials said they would be providing all help to support the victim's treatment.

In a similar incident last month, a 16-year-old girl from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh died after she was allegedly raped and set ablaze by two men. The suspects, identified as Rajveer and Tarachand, allegedly sexually assaulted the teen in her home on Sept. 7, and then poured inflammable oil over her, causing severe burn injuries. The victim succumbed to death while she was being treated for the burns. The two accused were nabbed, and officials said they would face additional charges of murder.