GUJRAT, July 15: An alleged proclaimed offender injured in an ‘encounter’ with police some days ago, died at Kharian CMH on Tuesday.

Karrianwala police had informed newsmen that a police party on patrol had signalled two men on a motorcycle to halt near Malikpur Mirza but they opened fire. As a result, constables Mudassar and Amir were injured.

The police chased the motorcyclist who abandoned their two-wheeler, took refuge in nearby fields and opened fire on police who retaliated.

Police claimed the crossfire left a man later injured who was identified as Manzar Husain, a proclaimed offender. The other man, identified by police as PO Iqbal alias Bala Kurra, escaped.

Police also claimed to have recover a kalashnikov from the Manzar who was admitted to the Kharian CMH where he breathed his last on Tuesday.

The body was sent to mortuary for autopsy.

Relatives told newsmen at the DHQ Hospital that Manzar had recently returned to Pakistan to meet his family. They alleged that Karrianwala police had killed Manzar in a staged encounter.

They said Manzar was not wanted by police in any case and not a single FIR was lodged against him.

They said that Manzar was going to meet his relatives when the police picked him up, shot at and injured him to cover up their inefficiency. The real culprits, who shot at and injured the two policemen, escaped from the scene.

They urged the chief minister, the governor and the IGP to order registration of a murder case against the policemen who killed Manzar.

DACOITIES: A car, an oil tanker were driven away by dacoits while thieves took away valuables from a house in and around the city during the last 24 hours.

Three armed men intercepted Munawwar near Shah Jhanian, Lalamusa, and took away his car (No LHF 2253) at gunpoint.

Another three dacoits dragged Muhammad Boota out of the oil tanker (No AJKA 3337) near Noonanwali and drove away.

Thieves decamped with Rs11,230 and gold ornaments from the house of Khadim Hussain in Sarai Alamgir.