BAHAWALPUR, Oct 1: An alleged dacoit was shot dead in an encounter with police near Musafirkhana, about 20 kilometres from here, on Friday.

According to reports, a gang of six dacoits drove away with the motorcycle of Fayyaz Dadpoutr earlier in the day.

Led by information, Nowshera Jadid police moved to hunt the gang, which had sought refuge at a landlord's outhouse near Mauza Tahirwali. As the police encircled the outhouse, the gangsters opened fire and that led to an encounter. During an exchange of fire, Ashfaq Charl was killed while one of his accomplices injured.

Allah Wasay alias Ajmal was arrested and two others escaped after which their hideout was being raided by the police till last reports came in. The police claimed to have recovered three kalashnikoves from the arrested men who, they said, were wanted in a number of criminal cases.