SIALKOT, Feb 15: Two proclaimed offenders were killed in an encounter near Syedanwali-Roypur village late on Friday night, police claimed.

Sialkot DPO told newsmen on Saturday that two robbers escaped with the motorcycle (No STK 7296) of Rahil. The Sialkot Saddar police started chase of the robbers who opened fire. Police retaliated and both the POs were killed in the crossfire, the DPO claimed.

Identifying the dead robbers as Azam alias Azma Chitta and Akbar alias Sohal, the DPO claimed both were wanted in various cases of murder, kidnapping for ransom, dacoity and robbery.

According to the DPO, Azam and Akbar also had kidnapped exporter Haji Muhammad Latif about three months ago and freed him after receiving Rs10 million ransom from his family.

The DPO said he had promoted five constables who killed the two POs in the encounter.

PROBE ORDERED: District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid has ordered an inquiry against the doctors and paramedical staff of the Govt Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital and the Government Sardar Begum Memorial Hospital who were found absent from their duties on Friday.

According to a press release issued here on Saturday, the District Nazim found most doctors and para-medical staff of the two hospitals absent from their duties during surprise visits on Friday. The Nazim found a dispenser attending some serious patients in the emergency ward of the Sardar Begum Hospital.