OKARA, Dec 18: Saddar police claimed to have arrested a wanted outlaw after an hour-long encounter while his accomplices managed to escape in the darkness near Suchanwala village, some 10kms from here, on Monday night.

Reports said that a heavy police contingent, led by SHO Salar Rana Naseer and Sub-Inspector Iqbal Dogar, reached the spot after receiving a radio message that some highwaymen were busy looting passersby. Getting the wind of police arrival, the outlaws took their positions and started firing on law enforcers when they were challenged. The police also returned the fire. After a shootout of some one-hour, the police succeeded in arresting an outlaw, identified later as Abbas of Fatehpur. However, his accomplice Allah Wasaya beat a retreat. — Correspondent