A man accused of sexually assaulting his neighbour stabbed a police inspector in Pirojpur yesterday.

Haider Howlader, 33, attacked Rafiqul Islam, assistant sub-inspector at Kawkhali Police Station, in Joykul village of Kawkhali upazila, said Kawkhali police OC Kamruzzaman Talukder.

“Around 11:00am, the ASI, along with a constable, reached Haider’s house to investigate a complaint of sexual assault. A woman of the same neighbourhood had filed the complaint. As soon as Rafiqul entered the house, Haider swooped on him with sharp weapons,” he said.

The 35-year-old ASI was taken to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal with serious wounds on hands and head, said the OC.

Haider and his wife had been absconding since the incident, he added.