Woman, 23, 'set on fire by neighbour after she fought off his rape attempt'
The victim is fighting for her life after she suffered 50 per cent burns when she was doused with kerosene and set alight at her home in Bihar in east India
by Lorraine KingA woman is fighting for her life after she was set on fire by an intruder who tried to rape her in her home.
The 23-year-old victim suffered 50 per cent burns after she was doused with kerosene and set alight at her home in Bihar, east India, on Saturday.
She was taken to a hospital in Muzaffarpur by her mum who had rushed home from work after being told about the horrific incident, Times of India reports.
A man, who is reported to be a neighbour, has been arrested and is in custody at Ahiyapur police station.
This latest rape-related incident in India is days after the charred bodies of two women were found in Buxar and Samastipur.
Both women are believed to have been raped before being set on fire.
On Saturday a gang rape victim who was set on fire as she made her way to court hearing in Uttar Pradesh died.
The 23-year-old woman had filed a complaint with police in March alleging she had been raped at gunpoint on December 12, 2018.
On Thursday, the rape victim was seized by five men, including the two people she had named in her complaint, and beaten, stabbed and set on fire.
In India, lengthy trials, often a result of fewer courts and judges, tend to delay convictions, leaving poor, disillusioned victims with little money and patience to pursue the case.
Also, long trials result in bails to the accused who often intimidate victims and their witnesses, and try tampering with evidence.
On Friday, Indian police shot dead four men who were suspected of raping and killing a 27-year-old veterinarian near Hyderabad city, drawing applause from across the country angry over violence against women.
But many were also concerned that police had over reached in shooting the alleged suspects without any trial.
A Bollywood filmmaker sparked anger last week by saying rape "without violence" should be legalised in India and women should carry condoms with them.
Daniel Shravan also said if men had their sexual desire fulfilled they wouldn't kill women in an outrageous Instagram post which has been widely condemned on social media.
Shravan said in his now deleted post that "the government should legalise rape without violence for the safety of women".
The Bollywood director posted his views after Priyanka Reddy was raped and murdered by four men in Hyderbad two weeks ago .
The charred body of the 27-year-old vet, who was attacked after her scooter broke down, was found under a motorway overpass.
Protests to end what has been described as a "rape culture" have taken place in India lately.
Demonstrators have held placards in support of rape victims across the country.
The number of rapes recorded in India is almost 40,000 each year, according to official figures.
But campaigners say the real number is higher, with victims wary of filing cases because of the social stigma and a lack of faith in investigators.