HYDERABAD, Oct 18: Police have arrested a sub-inspector and an ASI (both suspended) after the two policemen resorted to firing in the court room of 4th Additional District Judge Abdul Rasool on Wednesday while fleeing to escape arrest.

The suspended SI Habibullah Chand and ASI Aijaz Deshak, who were on protective bail of Sindh High Court Karachi due to expire on October 20, arrived in the court of Special Judge, Anti Corruption (provincial) for seeking bail before arrest in two separate cases lodged with Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE).

ACE officials led by DSP Malik Mulazim Hussain were already present in the Sessions Court premises to apprehend them.

The Special Judge Anti Corruption (provincial) rejected their bail before arrest application, prompting them to flee to escape arrest.

Sub-inspector Chand was SHO of Nasarpur police station and ASI Deshak was also posted there when they were placed under suspension.

DSP ACE Mulazim Hussain chased them and finding no escape route they entered the court of 4th Additional District Judge, Mr Abdul Rasool.

As the DSP and ACE officials tried to arrest them, ASI Aijaz Deshak resorted to firing in the courtroom.

The ADJ ran for cover towards the chamber of Special Judge Anti Corruption after he heard the sound of gunshots.

The windowpanes of the chamber of the ADJ were found smashed and papers scattering all over in the chamber.

When the visibly embarrassed and terrified ADJ was approached for seeking details of the incident, he expressed ignorance about the incident.

Later he told that when he heard the sound of gunshots he came to the chamber of Special Judge Anti Corruption.

A large number of advocates and court staff were surprised as to what has happened.

The SI and ASI managed to come out of the Sessions Court but soon two police constables of the Cantonment police station who were patrolling around the court intercepted and challenged them.

They officials again opened fire on the police leading to everyone running helter-skelter for cover.

SP City Saifullah, who was in his office, came out and reached the spot. The DSP also rushed to the spot.

The SP City and DSP Headquarter Khalid Mustafa apprehended the SI and ASI.

Two pistols and three magazines were recovered from their possession. The Cantonment police took them away.

No body in the court could have noticed they were hiding the weapons under their clothes as they were in civvies.

A witness said that the ASI had thrown his official belt as well.

The ACE Hyderabad lodged first case against these police officials on the complaint of a goods transporter Ashraf who claimed that former SHO Nasarpur police station had detained him wrongfully and took Rs11,000 for releasing him from wrongful confinement in a theft case. He also agreed to pay another amount of Rs11,000.

An excavator of Irrigation Department was stolen from watercourse-II Nasarpur some time back and a case was lodged at the Nasarpur police station.

Ashraf later informed the ACE officials and on September 29 a trap was arranged led by DSP Ali Asghar Qureshi and Civil Judge Asif Soomro.

They reached a hotel where the SHO arrived to receive the bribe from Ashraf. As soon as he received the illegal gratification the ACE people tried to arrest him.

The SHO and the ASI fled by driving car at breakneck speed, hitting the judge and ACE officials.

The ACE officials however managed to grab a Kalashinkov and a walkie-talkie from a police constable.

Another case was lodged against SHO Chand and ASI Deshak.

DIG Hyderabad range police suspended the SHO, the ASI and two police constables.

The SHO took away the diary from the police station and committed forgery by interpolating the police record.

He made false entries against the civil judge and the ACE officials, accusing them of asking him to favour Ashraf.

Preparations for registration of a case of forgery are also underway by the ACE officials and the case would be lodged soon.

The SHO and the ASI have also given a joint application to SSP Hyderabad claiming that they were falsely implicated in the case as they did not accede to the request of civil judge and ACE officials.

SSP Hyderabad Moazam Jah told newsmen that both the police officials now stood dismissed from service because no proof was required against them in this context.

He added that cases for possessing arms and resorting to aerial firing in the sessions court would also be lodged against them.

He said that sanctity of court was one of the most important thing to be maintained by police.