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Feb, 2018. In an extremely disturbing incident in Uttar Pradesh, an 18-year-old girl was burnt to death. Her charred body was found outside her village about 100 kms from state capital Lucknow.

Moments after she had left home on her bicycle for the weekly market in the area, she was attacked by unidentified persons who used kerosene oil to set her on fire, police said.

She tried to run towards the village, but collapsed after about 100 metres.

"We heard cries and rushed to the spot. However, by the time we got here, she had died. She didn't have enemity with anyone in the village," said Bhauri Ram, a chowkidar or watchman.

Her body, with 100 per cent burn injuries, was recovered by the side of a field outside her village. Her cycle was lying next to her. It appears that the girl was burnt alive, the police said. An empty can and a bundle of matchsticks were also found on the spot.

"She had left home to buy vegetables around 4.30 pm. Soon after, her burnt body was recovered in the village. The news of her death spread in the village and her family rushed to the spot. They identified her bicycle and slippers," said a senior police officer.

As her post-mortem report today has ruled out sexual assault, the police said they are gathering information to ascertain the reason and studying the circumstances that led to the attack.

More than one person are involved, a senior officer said.

Sujit Pandey, Inspector General of Police, said, "It appears to be a murder. We have recovered the body, her dupatta, slippers and a bicycle. Investigations are on."

According to National Crime Records Bureau data, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 9.5 per cent of total crimes reported in the country in 2016.

UP reported 14.5 per cent (49,262 out of 3,38,954 cases) of total cases of crimes against women.