Lucknow, July 24 (IANS) A youth, dejected after his marriage proposal was turned down, threw acid on four girls early Thursday in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur town, about 400 kms from here, the police said. The girls, three of whom are sisters, are in the seven to 14 years age group. The 20-year-old youth had been rejected by the eldest sister.

The injured girls have been hospitalised and the condition of two of them is said to be critical.

“The incident happened in the Tiwaripur locality. The accused, Asgar Ali alias Rahul, had proposed to one of the sisters but facing rejection, he committed the crime,” additional superintendent of police Ramesh Kumar told IANS.

Rahul has been arrested, he added.