A home guard and his three aides were booked for their alleged attempt to set a woman on fire after an argument over temple funds at Posinavaraipalem village in Guduru mandal of Krishna district late on Monday night.

The woman, identified as Chintala Chandrakala, alleged that the accused doused her with petrol and tried to set her on fire.

She lodged a police complaint on Monday midnight after she underwent a medical examination at the government hospital in Machilipatnam.

The victim lives with her family on the outskirts of Pedana town.

In her complaint, Ms. Chandrakala said that she had some differences with the home guard Posina Ramu and some other people over the management of funds of a temple in their village .

On Sunday, the villagers including woman and the accused discussed the management of the temple at a meeting.

“Three persons and Posina Ramu waited near my house on late Monday night. When I came out, Ramu and his aides, all in inebriated condition, scolded me over the temple fund issue. They doused me in petrol. However, they left the spot before setting me on fire as I started shouting for help,” Ms. Chandrakala alleged.

Bandar Rural Circle Inspector P. Ravi Kumar confirmed that cases had been registered against Ramu and his aides on the charges of attempting to kill the woman.

Evidence gathered

“The saree that victim was wearing during the incident, petrol bottle and other evidence have been seized. Investigation is on,” Mr. Ravi Kumar told The Hindu.

Bandar Deputy Superintendent of Police Mehaboob Basha said that they were yet to arrest any accused.