Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7: A 22-year-old man suffered burn injuries as another youth splashed an inflammable liquid chemical on him and then set him on fire at GGP Colony last night. Police suspect that the case is a fallout of past rivalry.

The injured, Bhagirathi Bej, suffered 35 per cent burn injuries on his face, chest and hands. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

"When we asked him how the incident took place, the victim told us that some chemical was thrown on him. But he could not elaborate on it. His condition is critical with several body parts still swollen," said the hospital's plastic surgeon Jayant Dash.

The accused, Swaraj Ojha, 24, was arrested from GGP Colony today.

"The victim has a history of rivalry with the accused. Both of them and their supporters were having a heated argument last night. Suddenly, the accused poured thinner (a chemical solvent used to thin oil-based paints or clean up after their use) on him and then set him on fire," said deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi.

Bhagirathi's relatives, however, alleged that he was the victim of an acid attack. Raghunath Bej, a relative of Bhagirathi, alleged that the accused had poured acid on him. But the police scoffed at the claim.

This incident took place two days after a woman was injured in an alleged acid attack by her husband in Kandhamal district. The victim's husband had poured acid on her because he suspected she was having an extra-marital affair. On Saturday, a 17-year-old girl suffered burn injuries when she was attacked with acid in her house at Gangapur village in Ganjam. The victim is now undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

Sources said that most common corrosive acids, such as hydrochloric, sulphuric and nitric, mostly bought for toilet-cleaning and jewellery-polishing purposes, are available for as low as Rs 20 a litre.