The National Commission for Women (NCW) Monday took suo moto cognizance of the rape and killing of a 22-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district and served a  notice to Director General of Police A.L. Banerjee.

The woman's body was recovered from a field in Aenthapur village Saturday. Her face was burnt with acid and she was found naked in the field.

No personal belongings, other than a half-burnt hair clip, a handkerchief, a pair of scissors and a small piece of her kurta was recovered from the crime scene. The woman had a plastic rope tied around her neck.

The police are yet to identify the victim. An autopsy conducted Monday, however, confirmed rape and strangulation. The report also suggests the victim was forced to drink acid.The police took no interest in the case initially, but were spurred into action after the NCW issued notice.

The state has been reeling under a spate of rape cases and crime against women, leading to protests against the Akhilesh Yadav government. Two sisters were gang raped and murdered in a Budaun district village last week.