Barwani (MP): An assailant opened fire on two men, accused in the killing of a political leader, inside a court at Sendhwa town in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh today, police said.  

A police personnel inside the court quickly overpowered the attacker, identified as Suresh alias Babu, said superintendent of police Prashant Khare. Gopal Joshi and Santosh Shukla, the two accused facing trial, were injured in the attack. Suresh was arrested, and the court sent him in police custody for three days for further probe.  

"The incident occurred when the court was hearing a murder case in which Joshi and Shukla are accused. A person present in the court suddenly started firing on both the accused. Suresh alias Babu (32), the attacker, was overpowered by head constable Than Singh Chouhan," the SP said.  

Joshi and Shukla are accused of killing Sanjay Jhanwar, a leader of Bharatiya Janshakti Party (an outfit floated by Union minister Uma Bharti which later merged with the BJP) in 2008.   The two were administered primary treatment at a hospital in Sendhwa and sent to Mumbai for further treatment, the officer said.  

Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police Rishi Kumar Shukla announced a reward of Rs 20,000 for head constable Chouhan for his swift action, the SP said. PTI