According to Additional Superintendent of Police Kamlesh Kumar Kharpuse, Salman was arrested from Bhopal late Thursday. While being transported back to Goharganj, the police vehicle reportedly developed a puncture in a forested stretch near Obedullaganj. Around 3–4 a.m., as officers shifted him to another vehicle, he allegedly attempted to snatch Sub-Inspector Shyamraj Singh’s firearm and fired. Police retaliated, injuring him.
Inspector Vijay Tripathi, who fired the retaliatory shot, told ANI that the accused had snatched the pistol before the police opened fire. A forensic team inspected the spot on Friday morning.
The incident follows days of intense public anger in Raisen, where residents staged protests, blocked roads and demanded that the accused be given the death penalty. The outrage prompted Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to convene a late-night meeting with top officials. Dissatisfied with the pace of the investigation, he ordered the removal of Raisen SP Pankaj Pandey, appointing Ashutosh as the new district police chief.
The assault took place on 21 November, when the child was lured with the promise of chocolate and taken into a forested area. She was found later that evening, injured and traumatised. Doctors at AIIMS Bhopal performed emergency surgery, stating her injuries were severe but her condition is now improving.
The victim’s parents said the accused had been frequenting the neighbourhood for weeks, befriending children and gaining their trust. Police have deployed additional forces in Goharganj to prevent unrest as the investigation continues.
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