Cop dies as assailants open fire in court complex to free accused

Assailants opened fire inside a court complex in Bhiwani district today during a failed bid to free a kidnapping accused, killing a Haryana police head constable, police said.

Head constable Bhagirath sustained a bullet injury and died in the incident. Police nabbed two assailants while two others managed to escape, Superintendent of Police, Bhiwani, Ganga Ram Punia said over phone.

The senior police official said that three to four armed persons barged into the court complex in Siwani town and opened fire as soon as the kidnapping accused, Jai Kumar alias Bhadar, and one more accused, Sunil, were about to board a prison van after being produced in court.

"When the two were being escorted by the policemen towards a prison van in the court complex, 3-4 armed assailants opened fire in a bid to free Kumar ," he said.

Punia said a motorcycle, a pick-up van and some weapons were seized.

He said both Kumar and Sunil were currently lodged in judicial custody.

A case has been registered in connection with the incident and further investigations were on, he said.