GUJRAT, May 12: Two murderers of as many policemen were shot dead by Karrianwala police in an encounter near Hajiwala on Saturday night.

SSP Riaz Ahmad told newsmen that on a tip-off that four proclaimed offenders were looting passers-by near Hajiwala Chowk, a police party led by SHO Tariq Warraich reached the spot and asked POs to give themselves up. But the outlaws opened fire on police which was returned.

Meanwhile, more police contingents and elite force rushed to the spot and took part in the operation against the criminals, he said. The crossfire that lasted for over two hours left two POs dead while their two accomplices managed to escape, the said.

During the shootout, he said, a police van of Karrianwala police was also damaged. Police recovered two Kalashnikovs and a huge quantity of cartridges lying beside the dead POs. They were later identified as Shamraiz and Ihsan Kalis, he said.

The dead POs had shot dead sub-inspector Arshad and ASI Malik in an ambush on Feb 9, 2002, in the limits of Tanda police station. They were also involved in a number of heinous cases, the SSP concluded.