Raiganj, May 14: Unable to tolerate the repeated attempts of molestation, Fulmoni Mardi (38) poured kerosene over a local CPM leader, Binan Barman, and set him alight late last night. The unmarried woman was later arrested.

The incident took place at Mahipur village near Raiganj. Binan (49) has been admitted to the district hospital. Doctors said he had 70 per cent burns.

After the incident North Dinajpur district secretary of the CPM, Bireswar Lahiri, visited Binan at the hospital. “This is the work of the Congress leader of the area, Bijoy Singh, and he targeted Binan when he was returning from campaigning,” Lahiri said.

Fulmani, however, had a different tale to tell.

“I know Binan for a long time. In recent past, he tried to harass me many times. Yesterday, he came to my house in a drunken state and tried to molest me. When I protested, he became enraged and started beating me up. When I hit him back, he fell down. There was a bottle of kerosene in the room and I poured it on him and set him on fire. I have narrated all this to the deputy magistrate,” said Fulmani.

Binon’s brother Bhupesh said the CPM leader had an affair with Fulmani. “Yesterday’s incident was the result of a quarrel,” Bhupesh said.

North Dinajpur district police chief Swapan Banerjee Purnapatra said there was no political angle in the incident.