Police on Friday said a team opened fire in self-defense after two suspects tried to attack them. One suspect was shot in the leg.

The incident occurred when Nampally police station and anti-robbery team personnel stopped two persons roaming suspiciously and were interrogating them.

The suspects refused to surrender and one of them tried to attack the police with an axe. The second suspect picked up a stone from nearby and started throwing it at the police team.

Police said the team opened fire in self-defence, injuring one of the criminals. Both surrendered before the police. The injured was admitted to Osmania General Hospital while the other was taken into custody.

A similar incident was reported in Secunderabad last month when police opened fire on two criminals who had snatched a mobile phone from a person. One robber was injured.

In another incident on July 5, police opened fire to arrest a gang of robbers at Pedda Amberpet near the Outer Ring Road on the outskirts of the city.

In view of the increasing cases of chain and phone snatching, the police have formed special teams to conduct checking and decoy operations.