Allahabad: The sub-inspector of police who had shot dead a lawyer inside the district court premises on Wednesday, triggering violent protests across the city, has claimed that he had fired in 'self defence' after being physically assaulted by some advocates.

He also said he had fled the spot and remained in hiding for two days to save his life. Sub-inspector (SI) Shailendra Kumar Singh, who was arrested on Friday evening at Prayag railway station and has been kept at the Naini Central Prison on the outskirts of the city, gave a statement in front of Additional SP (City) Rajesh Kumar Yadav late last night.