A suspected rapist was injured when police fired on him as he allegedly tried to escape from custody in Assam’s Biswanath district on Monday, police said.
He has been admitted at the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, they added.
Police said the 60-year-old suspect was arrested from Kathanibari under Jingiya Police Station on Sunday.
He was caught by the villagers on allegation of molesting a minor girl and handed over to the police.
Biswanath Superintendent of Police Leena Doley said the accused was being kept at Biswanath Police Station and at around 1 am, he was taken out of his cell to attend call of nature.
“He pushed away the guards and attempted to flee. The office in-charge of the police station fired three rounds in the air but when the accused continued to run, he was forced to shoot on his leg,” Doley said.
The suspect was injured in his left leg and was admitted at the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital in neighbouring Sonitpur district, where his condition was stated to be stable, police added.
Assam has witnessed a spurt in police encounters since Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed office on May 10 last year, with 39 people killed and at least 91 injured in such incidents since then.
