An engineering student accused of attacking the conductor of a city bus was arrested after an encounter with the police in Naini area of Prayagraj district here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Saturday.

Police sources said that Lareb Hashmi, a resident of Hajiganj, is a BTech first year student in an engineering college in Naini.

"On Friday Lareb boarded the city bus for his college from Shantipuram. Before deboarding the bus at his college gate Lareb attacked the conductor Harikesh Vishwakarma with a sharp-edged weapon inflicting injuries on his neck and hand and fled," they said.

Police sources said that later the accused was arrested by the police from the college campus.

"After questioning the police took the accused to recover the weapon late in the evening.

"During this Lareb, who was hiding a pistol, opened fire on the police team and attempted to escape from custody," they said.

Police sources said that Lareb sustained a bullet injury in leg in retaliatory firing.

"He was admitted to Swarup Rani Nehru hospital in the night. It is being alleged that Lareb made a video in which he raised religious and provocative slogans which is also being investigated," they said.

Police sources said that on the complaint of the conductor's father Ramshiromani Vishwakarma a case of attempt to murder has been filed against Lareb.

"It is being said that the accused had a dispute with the conductor over bus fare two-three days back," they said.

(With UNI inputs)