A person accused of child molestation was shot by police while trying to escape in the Biswanath district of Assam on Sunday.

The person was accused of molesting a 7-year-old minor yesterday. He was injured in the firing and was immediately rushed to the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital.

The injured person has been identified as Mohim Bora, aged 56 years old and a resident of Biswanath. He tried to escape police custody when he was shot after being repeatedly cautioned which he did not heed to.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Biswanath, Leena Doley was quoted by ANI as saying, “Seeing no other option and to prevent him from escaping by taking advantage of the rain and the darkness, the police officer fired three warning shots into the air. But the accused person still continued to run. ”

“Therefore to re-apprehend him, two rounds were fired aiming below his waist. The accused fell down and he was re-apprehended,” added Doley.

Notably, the accused was earlier thrashed by a group of villagers who painted his face and paraded him with shoes tied around his neck. He was arrested later and charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.