A 16-year-old girl lost both her legs and a hand after she was hurled in front of a train by a couple of men for resisting molestation in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, the victim’s family alleged on Wednesday.

The police had initially said only an inquiry would substantiate the allegation against the accused but rushed to arrest the main suspect and his father in the afternoon when the media raised the issue of women’s safety in the state.

An uncle of the victim, a Class XII student, told reporters: “Vijay Maurya, the main accused, and his two-three friends used to follow her on her way to a coaching institute and back home. Eyewitnesses told us that some youths were trying to molest her near the Khadauwa railway crossing when she was returning home. When she resisted them, they pushed her before a train. She has lost both legs and a hand and is under treatment at a private hospital.”

“We had informed Krishnpal Maurya, Vijay's father, that he was harassing our daughter but he had taken it lightly. We had registered a complaint with the police two months ago that her life was in danger as the molesters were continuously following her. Recently, they had started openly passing indecent remarks and trying to touch her. The police never inquired about the case,” the uncle, who is a lawyer, said.

Rahul Bhati, superintendent of police of Bareilly, said on Wednesday morning: “We have got a complaint from a family member of the victim that a particular youth had pushed her before a train. But we don’t have any independent evidence till now to substantiate the allegation.”

Dhule Sushil Chandrabhan, senior superintendent of police, said in the afternoon: “We have arrested two persons and are searching for the other accused. We have also suspended four policemen for dereliction of duty. The victim has been shifted to the Medical College.”