Hyderabad: Police opened fire in the air after a suspect involved in theft cases was allegedly attacked with stones in Saidabad early Monday.

He said that the incident occurred when a police team out on patrol saw a person roaming suspiciously in the area and stopped him.

When police personnel interrogated him and tried to arrest the man, he pelted stones at the police team and a policeman fired one round in the air in self-defence, a police officer said.

However, the suspect fled the spot and efforts are on to nab him, the officer said.

Police said it was found that he had an old criminal record and was also involved in theft cases. Further investigation is ongoing.