Teacher set on fire for refusing to withdraw harassment charge

A schoolteacher was set on fire in Odisha's Rayagada district, allegedly because she refused to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against a sub-inspector of schools.

A schoolteacher was set on fire in Odisha's Rayagada district, allegedly because she refused to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against a sub-inspector of schools.

The police said Itishree Pradhan, 27, was about to go to sleep when an unidentified person barged into her room, set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her and fled on Sunday night.

She is struggling for her life at a Visakhapatnam hospital with more than 80% burns.

She said in her statement before a magistrate that she was attacked because she did not withdraw her sexual harassment complaint against sub-inspector of schools Netrananda Dandasena.