A murder accused was shot dead in a retaliatory fire by the police after he allegedly attacked a constable with a sharp weapon in an attempt to escape.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandeep Kumar Malik said prisoners were routinely taken to the Civil Hospital for a medical examination before being produced in a court.
Naseeb, a resident of Kotla Gonspur village in Hoshiarpur, was taken to the hospital for a medical check-up.
The SSP said Naseeb was facing seven criminal cases, including charges of murder and attempt to murder.
According to police, after the medical examination, a police team was bringing Naseeb back in an e-rickshaw when he allegedly tried to escape and attacked constable Jasdeep Singh with a sharp weapon.
Malik said the policeman initially fired towards the ground in self-defence. However, when Naseeb continued to attack, the constable fired at him.
Naseeb sustained bullet injuries and died as a result.
The police have constituted a special investigation team to probe the incident.
The authorities are also investigating how Naseeb managed to obtain the sharp weapon with which he attacked the constable. Meanwhile, SMO Dr Navjot Singh said the constable was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
