In Hoshiarpur, prisoner shot dead after ‘attacking constable, trying to snatch weapon’

Hoshiarpur: A prison inmate was shot dead near Civil Hospital Hoshiarpur on Saturday after he allegedly attacked a constable with a knife and tried to flee while being taken back from a medical check-up, police said.Senior superintendent of police Sandeep Malik said constable Jasdeep Singh first fired a warning shot before opening fire on the inmate, identified as Nasib Singh, after he allegedly tried to snatch the policeman's weapon during a scuffle.Police said four personnel had brought three inmates from jail to the civil hospital for medical examination. Jasdeep Singh was taking Nasib towards an ambulance in an e-rickshaw when the inmate allegedly attacked him with a knife."The constable suffered injuries on his face, foot and other parts of the body during the attack. Despite a warning shot, the accused continued to attack and tried to snatch the weapon, following which the constable fired at him," the SSP said.Nasib was taken to hospital but died during treatment.Police said Nasib, in his mid-30s, was facing seven criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder and NDPS Act charges. He was both a convict and an undertrial in separate cases.Police are also investigating how the inmate managed to obtain a knife inside custody.