Police fired at a history-sheeter when he resisted arrest and assaulted a sub-inspector at Pillappanapalya in Rajagopalanagar, north Bengaluru, early on Wednesday morning.

This is the second time in the last two days that police fired at a suspected criminal. On Monday night, Vidyaranyapura police inspector Puneeth Kumar R fired at Kommaghatta Manju alias Manjunath who is suspected to be involved in several chain-snatchings and robberies.

An arrest warrant was recently issued against Pavan alias Pappi Reddy, 24, who is accused of committing at least eight crimes, including attempt to murder, dacoity, robbery and theft. Around 5 am on Wednesday, Rajagopalanagar police inspector Mithun Shilpi and sub-inspector Sharath Kumar received information that an armed man riding a scooter without number plate was planning to rob people.

The policemen went in search of him and tracked him down. He turned out to be Reddy. When he was asked to surrender, he attacked Kumar with a machete, injuring him. Reddy then tried to assault the inspector. Just then, Kumar fired twice in the air to warn Reddy. But the suspect paid no heed and darted towards Kumar who quickly fired at him in the leg.

Police took Reddy to Victoria Hospital and he is said to be stable. Kumar, who has injured his hand, was taken to a private hospital and is out of danger. A senior police officer said, “Residents of Laggere had submitted a petition to the police commissioner demanding the arrest of Reddy as he was terrorising them. The residents had even planned to protest in front of the police station. But Reddy was proving to be too smart whenever police tried to catch him.”