SIALKOT, Oct 22: Three ‘hardened criminals’ were shot dead in what police said firing by their accomplices who got unnerved during an encounter with law enforcers.

The one and-a-half hour long shootout took place near Jhariyanwala village of Sambrial tehsil on Wednesday.

Sialkot District Police Officer Muhammad Ameen told newsmen that five culprits were driving away with a car they forcibly got possession of from Nazim Farooq near Begowala.

The police on being informed formed a team of officials from five police stations (Sambrial, Begowala, Bambaanwala, Sohdra and Daska) and the Elite Force, which tracked the robbers.

An encounter took place between the police and the gangsters which ended in three of the robbers having fallen prey to bullets fired by their two accomplices, the DPO said, adding that the latter two made good their escape.

The DPO identified the deceased as Sarfraz, Nadeem Shah and Dildar. He said the gangsters were wanted by the Sialkot, Wazirabad, Sohdra, Gujrat and Gujranwala police in several cases of

dacoity, robbery and kidnap for ransom.

The police also claimed having recovered a Kalashnikov, pistols and rifles with bullets in quantity.

NARCOTICS: The Sambrial police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested constable Sattar Khan who was charged with selling narcotics to a Bhopalwala’s trafficker.