GUJRAT, Jan 24: A proclaimed offender was shot dead and three policemen were injured on Friday in an encounter in Haradian, Jalalpur Jattan, some 25 kms from here.

Range DIG Malik Muhammad Iqbal said the police launched a drive against the POs and dacoits on the directives of Punjab IGP Syed Masood Shah.

He said acting on a tip-off that Saud alias Sooda and his two accomplices were present in the house of Yousaf Tarkhan, the police conducted a raid, but they opened fire on police. As a result, three constables Afzal Baig, Shahid Naeem and Muhammad Ashfaq sustained bullet wounds and were shifted to Mayo Hospital, Lahore, for their serious condition.

Later, a heavy police contingent reached there and besieged the house, but the PO continued firing. Police also returned the fire and killed the PO after a two-hour shootout while his accomplices managed to escape. Police recovered two Kalashnikovs, a 7mm rifle and several rounds lying beside the body.

The DIG said the deceased PO was wanted by Karrianwala, Jalalpur Jattan, Civil Lines and Barnala (AJK) police in dozens of cases of dacoity, robbery and other heinous crimes.

A policeman told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that constables received bullet wounds due to the negligence of Jalalpur Jattan Saddar SHO. Some constables had informed the SHO that they were standing in front of Yousaf’s house, but the SHO did not agree and pointed towards another house. As the policemen moved away from the place, the PO came out of the house and fired at constables from their rear. This correspondent also witnessed the injury wounds of constables at their back sides.

FACTORY LOOTED: Twelve bandits looted a factory near the GT Road in the area of Saddar police station and took away machinery worth Rs8 million on Thursday night.