OKARA: Two suspects were injured in an encounter with police when bullets fired by their fleeing accomplices struck them late on Friday night near Adda Tabrook in the area of village 12/4L.

According to police, four armed highwaymen had snatched a motorcycle, cash and CNIC from Osama Siddique, of village 13/4L, and fled.

The Cantt Police night patrolling team, upon receiving information via the 15 police helpline, pursued the fleeing motorcyclists towards GT Road. The suspects were intercepted near Adda Tabrook, where they opened fire on the chasing police party. Police retaliated and during a subsequent search, two people were found injured.

They were identified as Mazhar Hussain, alias Mazhari of village Ghazi Zaman, Pakpattan, and Sadi Ahmad, of village 54/5R.

Both were shifted to a local hospital. Police recovered two illegal weapons with three live bullets, an unregistered motorcycle, the snatched motorcycle, Rs75,000 and the snatched CNIC.

Police said Mazhari was involved in 37 cases of heinous crimes across Okara, Pakpattan and Sahiwal, while Sadi had two criminalcases onrecord.