GUJRAT, Feb 10: The district police on Sunday claim to have killed a criminal who was got freed by his three accomplices near Kaila in an ambush in which two policemen were also killed on Saturday night.

Police told newsmen that four outlaws, including Majid Hussain alias Maju, had been arrested for their involvement in the killing of five persons at Kotla Arab Ali Khan on Sunday last.

Majid disclosed that his accomplices were present at an outhouse near Kaila, some 50 kilometres from here in the limits of Tanda police station.

Karrianwala police led by SI Arshad along with accused Majid, were on its way to the indicated place when three outlaws intercepted the police party and opened fire on them. SI Arshad and ASI Malick died on the spot. Later, the outlaws got released his accomplice Majid and made good their escape.

More police force was called out who continued chasing the absconders. The police however spotted the outlaws near a Sem Nullah at about midnight and ordered them to surrender, but they opened fire on police which was returned. The crossfire continued for over two hours which left Majid dead while his three accomplices managed to escape.

Police also recovered a light machine gun (LMG) from the spot.

Tanda police have lodged an FIR against Majid alias Maju, Ihsan Kalis, Abbas alias Basu and an unidentified outlaw for killing two policemen.

It is pertinent to mention that three policemen and as many outlaws have been killed in four separate encounters during the last 72 hours.