A 32-year-old married woman set herself ablaze by pouring kerosene on Saturday in Vijayawada. She was unable to bear the harassment by an APSRTC contract employee who was seeking sexual favours.

Soon after the incident came to light, the Machavaram Cirlcle police registered a case.

Inspector K Umamaheswara Rao told The New Indian Express that Nagamani, married to Naga Malleswara Rao for four years, set herself on fire when her husband went out to purchase vegetables.

However, the neighbours doused the flame and rushed her to hospital. She is said to be in a critical condition and undergoing treatment in New Government General Hospital.

She reportedly said in her statement that Koteshwara Rao alias Chitti, a contract employee of APSRTC, used to harass her with phone calls and messages seeking sexual favours.

He started spreading rumours that they had an illicit relationship and sent false messages to her husband threatening to leak them to others if she countered him.

This ultimately led to quarrels between the couple.

Police have launched a manhunt to find Koteshwara and have registered a case against him under Section 354 of IPC for assault or criminal force against women with the intent to outrage her modesty.