From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 05:00 PM IST

An 18-year-old girl immolated herself to escape an alleged molestation bid by a group of youths in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, the police said Wednesday.

According to the police, the victim, who was staying with here relatives in Sadabad locality of Hathras, about 400 km from here, was alone in the house Tuesday night.

Six men barged into the house and allegedly tried to rape her, the police said, adding

she poured kerosene on her body and set herself afire to escape the molestation bid.

The victim was rushed to the Aligarh Medical College in a serious condition but succumbed to her injuries early Wednesday, said the police.

'The girl named six youths of the same locality in her dying statement and we have lodged an FIR,' additional superintendent of police Rahul Rusia told IANS on phone.

The accused were at large and the police officer said: 'We have gathered vital clues and hope to arrest them soon.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)