Meerut (UP): A man accused of raping and killing a two-year-old girl escaped from police custody but was nabbed after a shootout. An investigation has been launched to find out how he got hold of a domestically made pistol so soon after his escape.

On Friday evening, Moish (20) abducted the minor who was sleeping with her family members outside her house in Sadar area, said Meerut City Police Commissioner Ayush Vikram Singh.

When the family members woke up, they chased the accused to free the girl from his clutches, but Moish threw the girl into the drain and fled, he said.

The girl’s body was recovered from the drain on Saturday morning, he said.

Meerut SSP Vipin Tada told reporters that Moish kidnapped and raped the girl. Today, he managed to escape from police custody while being taken for a medical examination.

Teams were immediately formed and tracked down the accused. When a police team tried to arrest him, he opened fire on them. In the retaliation, Moish sustained injuries on both legs, he said.

The SSP said an investigation was underway into where the accused got the homemade pistol after he escaped from custody.

The minor’s autopsy report confirmed that she was raped, said SSP Tada.