GUJRANWALA, Oct 26: Four outlaws involved in kidnap for ransom, murder, dacoity and other crimes were killed by the `firing of their own accomplices’ during a police encounter near Mangoki, Noshehra Virkan, on Sunday.

Regional police officer DIG Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema said at a press conference at his office on Sunday that he constituted a team which visited Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Thal, Muzzafarabad, Layyah and other districts and got information about the POs.

He said the team came to know that one of their accomplices -- Tariq -- was in Gujranwala Central Jail. Police got information from Tariq, conducted raids and arrested more accused.

The team carrying them by a vehicle was on its way to arrest their other accomplices when their men who were riding on two cars opened fire on the police party near Mangoke Virkan to get them freed, he said.

During a crossfire, the accused were killed by the firing of their own accomplices. The deceased were identified as Zahid Jajji, Amin, Imran, Asif.

No policeman or the assailant was hit during the crossfire. The assailants rather managed their escape.

The DIG said Zahid Jajji carried a head money of Rs1 million and Asif, Amin and Imran Rs0.5 million.

The DIG promoted raiding party members Kamoki Saddar SHO inspector Tariq Cheema as DSP, two constables Muhammad Yaseen, Khurram Shehzad as head constables and confirmed under-training ASI Munawar Husain. Zulfiqar Cheema also awarded them cash prize along with commendation certificates.

Later, the police carrying bodies of the deceased POs took a round of Alipur Chattha, Wazirabad, Ghakhar, Rahwali, Qila Didar Singh and placed them at Gondlanwala Chowk to `show the people the fate of the criminals.’