BAHAWALNAGAR, Oct 2: Police on Tuesday claimed to have killed an alleged dacoit in what they called an encounter, while his accomplice managed to escape.

District Police Officer Zafar Abass Bukhari told APP that Madrissa police, during their routine patrolling, signalled two motorcyclists to stop but they entered a sugarcane field leaving their bike.

According to the DPO, the suspects opened fire at the police from the field which was retaliated, ensuing an hour-long encounter resulting in bullet injuries to one of the alleged outlaws, later identified as Muhammad Rais of Thana Ahmad Yar, Pakpattan. The other accused, Lal Muhammad Joya, fled the scene.

The injured was taken to the hospital where he died.

Police also claimed to have recovered a 44-bore gun along with a magazine, a repeater with bullet rounds and a stolen motorbike from the scene.

Rais was wanted in a number of heinous crimes, including kidnap for ransom, murder, dacoity and attempted murder, the officer claimed.