BAHAWALPUR, March 28: Three armed men dressed in police uniform forcibly administered poisonous material to two friends before depriving them of their car, cash, two cell phones and other valuables at Sutlej bridge near here in the early hours of Friday.

Reports said landlord Malik Ikramul Haq of Khanpur and his friend, Waseem, were on their way to Khanpur from Lahore by their car. As they crossed the Bahawalpur toll plaza, a car followed them and the riders intercepted their vehicle at pistol point near the bridge. The interceptors trussed up the hands of two friends and forcibly administered them some poisonous material. Later, bandits collected cash and valuables from their pockets, then threw them in a nearby field and escaped with their car.

After spotting the two fainted men, labourers informed the Sadar police who shifted them to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital where the condition of Ikram was stated to be serious.