Ludhiana, Aug 8 - Angry over the fare charged from him, a policeman quarrelled with a bus conductor, then pulled out his service revolver and fired in the air to frighten him, but the bullet hit a young cricketer in the head, police said Saturday.

The incident took place here Friday evening, when Jitender Singh from the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) fired a shot in the air inside a bus bound for Jalandhar. The bullet hit 20-year-old Rahul Kumar, a co-passenger. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

District police chief Sukhchain Singh Gill told IANS Saturday: 'The accused cop has been arrested and a case registered against him.'

'The boy's condition is serious but stable and doctors have kept him under constant observation.