OKARA: An alleged robber and his unidentined accomplice were shot dead while three police officials were injured during an encounter with police near village Dharranga in the Haveli Lalcha police area on Tuesday.

During a press conference, District Police Officer Muhammad Faisal Rana said Yasin, son of Ahmad, was shifted to the Haveli Lakha police station for investigation from the Bahawalnagar District Jail.

On Monday, Sub-Inspector Afzal Jatoi along with a police team was taking him in police van to recover illegal weapons pointed out by him during investigation.

When they reached nearthe Jahaz Ground, in the suburb of H aveli Lakha, four armed motorcyclists intercepted the police van and opened fire. Sub-Inspector Afzal Jatoi and two constables, Qamer Sajid and Javald, suffered bullet injuries while the attackers succeeded in getting hold of Yasin and escaped.

Police reinforcement was called. They chased the attackers and intercepted them near village Dharranga where the encounter started.

Af ter the guns went silent, the police found Yasin and the unidentified robber critically injured while their other accomplices managed to escape.

Both the injured robbers died on the way to Haveli Lakha hospital while the injured policemen were being treated there.