A policeman attacked by a suspect was robbed of his pistol chambered with two bullets in east China's Anhui Province, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred Tuesday in Shuanggang Township. Mao Jigen, a police officer in Tongcheng city, was checking three men suspected of stealing moto-bicycles at a checkpoint, the Anhui public security department said.

The suspects fled but Mao subdued one of them after a 2-kilometer chase. When he tried to handcuff the suspect, he was stunned when he was hit with a brick from behind by another suspect, police said.

The three suspects, aged about 30 and all about 1.75 meters tall, are still at large. Anyone who provides information leading to their capture will receive a 10,000 yuan (1,460 U.S dollars) reward, police said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2009)