VEHARI, Feb 8: Three alleged dacoits and a sub-inspector were killed in an encounter in Chak 335-LB, Fateh Shah police station area, Burewala tehsil, on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said they received information that Ishfaqi gang was present in a hideout in Chak 335-LB near Dewan Chawli area. A Fateh Shah police station team raided the hideout. On seeing the police party, dacoits opened fire on them. Police returned the complement and a crossfire continued for some time as a result of which Sub-Inspector Waris Bhatti and dacoits Zulfiqar Bhatti, Mushtaq Jat and an unidentified were killed.

Vehari DPO Mukhtar Tikka told Dawn that the gang was active in the area for the last about one year and involved in about a dozen dacoity, kidnap and murder cases. He claimed that the felons were present in the area for committing dacoity.