GUJRANWALA, Oct 12: Two criminals and a police constable were killed in an encounter near Nowshera Virkan on Sunday.

On a tip off that two outlaws wanted in a dozen cases of heinous crime were present at their hideout near Mangoke, a police party conducted a raid to arrest them, but they opened fire. Constable Iftikhar sustained bullet injuries and was taken to the Civil Hospital where he died.

Following the death of the constable, the district police officer and other senior officers reached the spot along with a police contingent.

In the meantime, the outlaws had taken refuge at a Dera in Asgharwala. Here the police exchanged fire with the outlaws killing both of them on the spot.

They were later identified as Nasir Jutt and Iftikhar Jutt, both cousins.

The police recovered a rifle and a pistol besides a stolen motorcycle from the scene.