A police sub-inspector was injured and his service pistol looted by followers of a self-styled godman in Kaushambi district today, police said.
The incident occurred when Sub-Inspector Nayan Singh of Pachim Sharira police station area along with three other policemen prevented one Baba Ram Babu from immolating himself in "yagna kund", police said.
The self-styled godman instigated his followers claiming it to be an interference in religious proceedings following which someone in the crowd hit the cop on his head, they said, adding his pistol was also taken away.
The police officer was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.
Meanwhile, Ram Babu is on the run since the incident, they said.
A case has been registered, they said, adding that investigation are on.
