The leader of a state in northern India is vowing to take tough action after a number of brutal rapes.

There have been a series of reported attacks in Uttar Pradesh state in recent days, one involving a woman who was gang-raped and burned alive. In another incident, a girl was blinded while resisting her attackers.

In some of the cases, local police are accused of not taking action against the attackers or failing to protect victims and their families.

The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, Mayawati , said Tuesday she will call a meeting of top police and judicial officials to review the law-and-order situation and warn against any laxity on the part of law enforcement.

Mayawati also said that state laws would be amended to ensure that trials in assault cases be completed within six months and that suspects not receive bail in such cases.

The chief minister, who heads her own regional party, also rejected allegations by opposition parties that her government was not doing enough to deal with the series of recent crimes against women.