SIALKOT, March 14: Two proclaimed offenders were killed in a four-hour-long ‘encounter’ with police of three districts at Pannu Atari village near Bela along the bank of Chenab here on Tuesday.

Sialkot DPO Dr Tariq Khokhar told the press that on a tip-off, Begowala SHO Riaz Dar on Tuesday morning raided a hideout in Sambrial’s Habibpura locality for the arrest of a gang of four proclaimed offenders. On seeing the police, ring leader Iqbal alias Bala Bomb and his accomplices opened fire. During an armed clash, the accused fled away towards the Bela area.

The DPO said police from Sialkot, Gujrat and Gujranwala districts chased the POs. At Bela, Ubaidullah of Dhabula Uggoki and Mazhar of Malianwali Begowala were killed during a four-hour-long encounter, he said and added that two others, including ring leader Iqbal, managed to escape.

Mr Khokhar said they were wanted by police in a number of dacoity, robbery, murder and kidnap for ransom cases. The police recovered a big quantity of illicit weapons and a snatched car from them.

The police have registered a case and shifted the bodies to hospital for autopsy.