FAISALABAD, Feb 5: A hardened criminal was killed in an alleged gunplay on Monday while his two accomplices managed to escape.

Police said that Thekariwala and Saddar SHOs had signaled to stop a car for checking on a tip-off near Chak 238-RB, Awan Chowk. Instead, the car riders opened fire on police which was returned. In the meanwhile, the Jinnah Town TPO along with a heavy police contingent reached the spot and asked criminals to lay down their arms, but they continued firing. The shootout left criminal Amjad Iqbal alias Bao of Chak 155-RB, Panwan, dead on the spot.

The dead criminal was wanted by different police stations in several cases, including murder, kidnap for ransom and other heinous crime. He was also involved in the killing of two police officials.

Sources claimed that the deceased criminal was already under the police custody.