DERA GHAZI KHAN, Aug 8: Three constables were killed and another made hostage, while six people were injured during a police encounter with the Ladi gang in the jurisdiction of Saddar police.

According to sources, three armed men in a white car were intercepted by the Darahma police but they refused to stop, instead they opened fire on the police and fled.

Later, the same men snatched a motorbike from a citizen, Rasheed, at gunpoint and tried to flee from the scene when a police patrol intercepted them. The men fired at the police again. Two policemen proceeded towards the outlaws but were taken as hostage.Sources claimed the suspects later killed one of the hostages, constable Umer Khayam, while the other, the Saddar SDPO, was still in their custody and they were demanding safe passage for escaping in exchange for the policeman’s release.

During the encounter, two other police constables, Naeem Haider and Kashif, lost their lives while villagers Junaid and Aslam and four other constables Abdul Ghafar, Rashid, Abdul Ghafoor and Ismaeel sustained critical bullet injures and were shifted to the DHQ Hospital.

Locals have also joined the police against outlaws in the area.

Regional Police Officer Akhtar Umer Hayat Lalika told Dawn two police constables had been killed in the encounter that was going on until the filing of this report, while the suspects had been surrounded by the police and would soon be arrested.

The RPO did not confirm the kidnapping of two constables.

However, sources claimed the police had started negotiations with the outlaws to seek the release of their officers and were unsuccessful in fighting them despite paying a heavy price.

KIDNAPPING: A notable of the city has been missing since Wednesday, while the police registered a kidnapping case under Section 365 at Gaddai Police Station on the report of his brother.

Mian Muhammad Umer Bodla, a son of Prince Muhammad Mian Sarwar Bodla of the princely state of Bhahek in India, currently residing in Khayaban-i-Sarwar, had gone to meet his friends on Wednesday but did not return.

Gaddai police registered a case and started investigation.