HYDERABAD, Nov 11: A policeman and a hostage were killed and another hostage was injured in an exchange of fire between the Hala police and the kidnappers near Bhitshah on Sunday night.

A gang of five armed men kidnapped Wali Mohammad Lakho and his cousin, Salim Lakho, in the area of New Saeedabad on Sunday evening.

They were going somewhere on a motorcycle when the kidnappers intercepted them by hitting the motorcycle with their car and kidnapped them.

Another motorcyclist, who witnessed the scene, informed the Hala police. The police chased the kidnappers.

The kidnappers abandoned their car in the area of Bhitshah police station and hid at an abandoned place.

According to the police, seeing a police mobile coming towards them, the bandits fired on it and the police returned the fire.

In the exchange of fire, Dodo Khan Jahejo, the gunman of the TPO, Hala, and hostage Wali Mohammad were killed and the second hostage, Salim, was injured.

The kidnappers escaped, leaving Salim behind.

The police chased the kidnappers with the help of a foot-tracker but failed to find them.

No case was lodged with the Bhitshah police station so far.