Lucknow, March 17 (IANS) A Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator in Uttar Pradesh has been booked for setting a woman on fire over a land dispute, police said Wednesday.

S. Azad, who represents the Sadar assembly seat, set ablaze Savitri Devi Tuesday night after heated arguments over a piece of land, police inspector Suresh Chauhan told reporters in Maharajganj district, around 300 km from Lucknow.

'The incident took place in Rampur village. The legislator along with his supporters barged inside the widow's home and later set her on fire.

'The widow's son tried to rescue his mother, but was assaulted by the supporters of the legislator. We have registered a case against the legislator, who is absconding. We have detained some of his supporters to ascertain his whereabouts,' Chauhan said.

Savitri is being treated at a hospital, where her condition is stated to be very critical, he added.