Police said Bhaktiram Kakoty, a circle inspector, was caught by the public at Moirabari town, in upper Assam, this afternoon after his car crashed into another vehicle.
Kakoty then fired into the crowd before he was overpowered by the public and handed over to the police.
There was no report of any serious injury in the firing.
Kakoty had been absent from duty, without any official permission, for the past 71 days.