Agra, Feb 13 (IANS): A 17-year-old girl set herself on fire after her stalker tried to molest her, police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened in Uttar Pradesh's Pinahat town, about 65 km from Agra city, late on Tuesday while she was answering nature's call in the fields, Superintendent of Police (Rural-east) Nityanand Rai said.

The victim was with another girl when she was forcibly taken to a secluded spot by the accused, 25-year-old truck driver Sadhu, who was the victim's neighbour.

Her companion rushed back to call for help. However, the molester, who had been stalking the victim for nearly a year managed to escape.

The victim also went back home and locked herself in a room. Her family was away, the police officer said, adding that she then poured kerosene on herself and set herself on fire.

Sadhu, who is married and has a daughter, is absconding. A case has been registered and two police teams are looking for him.

According to the villagers, the accused had been harassing the girl for the past eight months. Because of her stalker, the girl had dropped out of school after Class 10.