Hyderabad: A 13-year-old girl working as a domestic help was set on fire, allegedly by her employer in Telangana, for resisting his rape attempt, police said here on Monday.

The 26-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday, based on the statement of the girl, who is battling for life at a hospital in Khammam district after suffering severe burns, they said.

Though the incident occurred on September 18, it came to light only on Monday after police received specific information of the girl undergoing treatment for burn injuries at a private hospital, police said.

On that day, the man had tried to molest her and she resisted it. He then doused the girl with petrol and set her ablaze, they said.