A 21-year-old history-sheeter was shot in the leg by the police when he attacked an assistant sub-inspector with a knife in the early hours of Tuesday.
History-sheeter Saravana alias Tarun and the ASI were taken to hospital and are said to be out of danger. The West Division police had formed a special team to trace the men who had robbed a man named Praveen (30) after the victim had filed a complaint.
Five men, who came in a car armed with logs, took away Praveen’s mobile phone and a UPS system on May 21. In a similar crime on June 2, another person was robbed of Rs 3 lakh in Kamakshipalya.
When the special team caught hold of two history-sheeters, Pradeep B M and Akshay, they revealed that Saravana and two of his associates, Nandish and Sumanth, were involved in the first robbery.
Around 2.30 am on Tuesday, Saravana, Nandish and Sumanth were travelling in an autorickshaw in Summanahalli junction when they were noticed by the policemen on patrol. The three-wheeler turned into a road behind the Pete Channappa industrial area called Guddehalli.
When the police team surrounded them, Nandish and Sumanth fled the spot, while Saravana attacked ASI Srinivasamurthy with a knife. Vijayanagar police inspector G N Nagesh fired in the air to warn Saravana, but he continued to attack the policeman. The inspector shot the rowdy on the left leg in self-defence to immobilise him.
Saravana has been wanted in several robbery cases in and around Pattegarapalaya, Sumanahalli, Vijayanagar and Magadi Road. The police said he is a resident of Tunganagar in Byadrahalli on Magadi Road.