VEHARI, April 19: Two proclaimed offenders (POs) were killed in an encounter with police here on Thursday morning at Piplee stop on Vehari-Khanewal Road.

This was claimed by Vehari district police officer (DPO) Malik Tassadaq Hayat while addressing a news conference here on Thursday noon.

On a tip-off, a police party tried to stop an oil tanker (LB-9377), he said, adding that one of its tyres burst by the police firing. As a result, the dacoits stopped it and opened fire on the police.

During a two-hour shootout, two dacoits identified as Riaz Husain of Chak 86/WB, and Riaz Ahmad of Chak 01/WB sustained injuries and later died on way to Vehari DHQ hospital. Their four accomplices managed to escape.

The DPO said the robbers were involved in various cases of murder, kidnapping, vehicle snatching and dacoity and wanted by Mitro, Thingi, Luddan, Machiwal and Makhdom Rashed police.

Mr Hayat said the accused had hijacked the tanker carrying over 25,000 litre fuel worth about Rs1.2 million at gunpoint from Thingi police limits on Wednesday night and threw its conductor and driver in the fields after tying them with ropes.

He said besides the oil tanker, the police recovered weapons from their possession.