GUJRANWALA, April 26: Police on Thursday killed seven of the nine under-trial prisoners who had escaped after killing two constables.

City Police Officer Khadim Husain Bhatti said police ordered the men to surrender near Tammo Wali village but they started firing. Azadar Husain, Mubashar, Mohammad Mansha, Irfan, Jehangir, Mazhar Iqbal and Waqas were killed in the ensuing encounter. Police were looking for the remaining two fugitives -- Sajjad and Haji.

Police claimed that Azadar and other accused were also involved in the murder of six policemen in Sialkot.

The nine prisoners were being escorted to Sialkot in a police vehicle after they had appeared in anti-terrorism court No.2 when they escaped towards nearby fields after killing Driver Salamat and Constable Niaz and injuring Assistant Sub-Inspector Abbas near Nandipur on Sialkot Road. The prisoners were facing charges of kidnapping for ransom and committing other heinous crimes.

Police had earlier claimed that they had re-arrested about half a dozen of the prisoners.