Niagara Falls man accused of setting woman on fire

Singh is being held on $100,000 cash bail.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Niagara Falls man was arraigned Friday after he allegedly seriously injured a woman by setting her on fire earlier this week, the Niagara County District Attorney's Office announced.

Officials said an indictment was unsealed Friday that charged 38-year-old Barinder Singh with first-degree assault. Singh is accused of dousing a Niagara Falls woman with a flammable liquid and setting her ablaze on Sunday morning in the area of 7th and Niagara Streets, according to officials.

The 48-year-old victim suffered third-degree burns to her head, arms and body and was in critical condition as of Wednesday, Niagara Falls police said. Mayor Robert Restaino told WIVB News 4 that the incident appears to be isolated and allegedly stemmed from a dispute between Singh and the victim.

“My office expedited the Grand Jury presentation in this case," said Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman in a release. "Given the extremely violent nature of the crime and the severe injuries to the victim I felt it was necessary to get the case indicted immediately and ask a County Court Judge to revisit the defendant’s release status. That was done today, and we again asked that the defendant be remanded pending trial. I hope that the bail that was set will be sufficient.”

Singh was originally released on his own recognizance despite objections from Niagara County prosecutors after being taken into custody Monday but is now being held on $100,000 cash bail.