VEHARI, July 29: Three dacoits-cum-kidnappers were killed while their ring leader escaped after encounter with police on Monday at Mauza Pir Shah, Karampur, some 27 kilometres from here.

Talking to newsmen, SP Syed Jawed Hussain Shah said that dacoits Riaz Rath, Zahoora Rath, Abid Hussain Bhatti and Zahoor Kharal were involved in 70 cases of murder, kidnap for ransom, dacoity and robbery. They were wanted by various police stations of Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts.

The SP said dacoits on Dec 19, 2001, busted into the house of landlord Mehr Alam of Kehror Pucca, looted Rs 50,000 in cash and also kidnapped for ransom his 19-year-old son Shah Jehan. Later, they demanded Rs500,000 from Alam which he paid without informing the police, but they did not release his son.

A few days ago, the outlaws again contacted Alam and demanded Rs200,000 more for the release of his son. This time Alam informed the SP who along with a police party and Alam reached the designated place on Monday morning. The outlaws who came on two motorcycles were also present there. Taking instant action, police opened fire on outlaws which was returned. After a brief shootout of 10 minutes, police killed three outlaws while the ring leader, Riaz Rath, managed to escaped on his motorcycle, the SP said.

He said Riaz and Zahoor were also involved in the jail break incident. On Nov 28, 2000, they along with Murtaza, Waheed and Mumtaz had escaped from the judicial lock-up in Vehari after shooting a security guard. Except, Riaz all the outlaws had been killed in various encounters in south Punjab.

The SP said these outlaws had also kidnapped for ransom a girl and a youth from Lodhran a few days ago. The police could not find the clue to Shah Jahan who was still in the custody of outlaws.

Police also recovered a Kalashnikov, a 7mm rifle, a repeater, and a motorcycle besides the bodies of outlaws. Their bodies were sent to the local THQ Hospital for autopsy. Till the filing of this report, no family members of outlaws contacted the police.

The SP disclosed that some influential people behind the outlaws would soon be arrested. He however did not disclose their names.

A few days ago, some police officials claimed that Zahoor Rath was in police custody. A police source also confirmed his arrest. Refuting the claim, the SP said the arrest report published in a local newspaper was baseless.