Fought sexual assault: Dalit women pushed into hot oil in UP

Meerut: In Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit woman was allegedly pushed into a cauldron of hot oil when she tried to restrict sexual harassment. Police said that the 18-year-old was attacked on Wednesday evening, The Indian Express (TIE) reported.

Police said that the woman sustained burns on half of her body, arms and legs. She, who was pushed into the cauldron by the owner of an oil mill and his two associates, has been hospitalized in New Delhi.

Police said that the three accused were arrested and charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 307 (attempt to murder) and provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on the complaint lodged by the woman’s brother.

According to the woman’s brother’s complaint, both were working in the oil mill as labourers for the past four months. On the evening of December 27, the owner of the mill, along with his two associates, tried to molest her, and when she resisted, they used casteist abuses at her and pushed her into the cauldron later. After that, they fled the place, he alleged.

He said that the woman was rushed to a local hospital and later was referred to the Delhi hospital.

Baghpat Deputy SP Vijay Chaudhary said that the police had arrested all the three accused shortly after the complaint was lodged. They have been told that the victim's condition is stable, he said, adding that they will make sure the culprit receives maximum punishment, TIE reported.