Hardoi (UP) | A man here allegedly attacked a class 12 female student with a sharp-edged weapon after she refused to marry him, police said on Thursday.

The woman remains in critical condition.

Her family claimed that they had earlier filed a police complaint against the alleged attacker, but no action was taken.

According to the police, the incident occurred Wednesday evening when the 18-year-old student, a resident of a village under the Lonar Police Station area, was returning home on a two-wheeler with a friend after appearing in an exam.

Pankaj, aged around 20 and a resident of Asalapur village, allegedly intercepted them and repeatedly struck the woman on the head with a sharp-edged weapon and left, the police said.

The woman was admitted to Hardoi Medical College, where her condition remains critical, they said.

The police detained Pankaj, but he allegedly snatched a rifle from a constable and escaped.

A subsequent encounter led to the arrest of the suspect, who sustained a bullet injury in the leg.

Constable Rohit was also injured in the exchange and both were taken to a hospital, an officer said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Martand Prakash Singh said action is being initiated to suspend the outpost in-charge and the constable for alleged negligence.

Meanwhile, the family alleged that Pankaj had been pressuring the woman to marry him and kept stalking her even after she refused.