Bengaluru: A police sub-inspector attached to Devara Jeevana Halli station sustained head injuries while trying to catch a gang of armed rowdies fighting with their rivals on Shampura Main Road on Thursday evening. When sub-inspector Nayaz Ahmed received information about a clash between Nadeem and his rival Umar, he arrived on the spot in plain clothes, and gave chase.

The police said, Nadeem, armed with a machete, attacked Ahmed on the head. The SI lost consciousness and Nadeem and his associates escaped. Passers-by took Ahmed, who was bleeding profusely, to a private hospital. He is said to be out of danger.

Ahmed managed to prevent a possible murder. However, the attack has brought back in focus the issue of officers not carrying their service weapon while on duty. In the wake of rising incidents of gang violence in the city, senior police officials reiterated that all personnel should be armed whether in uniform or not.

A special team has been formed to track the accused.