BAHAWALNAGAR, Jan 27: Two notorious outlaws were killed in a gun battle at Chak 237/9R in Fort Abbas tehsil near Khichiwala police station area on Saturday. DPO Syed Zafar Abbas Bokhari told journalists that an inter-district dacoits’ gang, headed by Haider Ali Joyia alias Haidry Joyia and Abid alias Abadi and their brothers Ali Sher Joyia and

Nasir alias Nasri of Pakpattan district, was active in Bahawalnagar district for quite some time.

He said that gangsters would rent houses in different towns of the district to carry out their criminal activities.

To date, he said, the gang had committed over 100 dacoities, burglaries and murders.

The DPO said that the district police besieged the hideout of outlaws after receiving information about their presence in Khichiwala.

Getting wind of police arrival, the outlaws took their position and opened fire on police which was returned.

Later, the shootout continued for one hour that left outlaws Haidery Joyia and

Abid alias Abadi dead while their two accomplices beat a retreat.

He said the district police also recovered a rifle, two 30-bore pistols, a repeater and cartridges in bulk.

Mr Bokhari said that gangsters in the recent past had committed 35 dacoities in Bahawalnagar, Dahranwala, Haroonabad and Donga Bonga.