KASUR: A suspect was gunned down in police custody on Monday, allegedly by his own accomplices during an encounter In Bhagiana village in the limits of Khudian police station, a day after he was arrested by the police.

Kasur police had arrested alleged robber Riffat alias Baba on Sunday, claiming that he had shot dead journalist Abdul Razzaq and injured two other reporters, Muqadar and Ghulam Rasool, on Depalpur Road near Khudian Town on May 17. Riffat was also wanted in over 18 cases of various kinds registered with Lahore and Kasur police.

According to the Khudian police, they took the suspect to Pial Kalan village for the recovery ofweapons and when they were on their way back, three arme d men attacke d them. The attackers got Riffat released from custody near Dholan village while he also snatched one SMG rifle from the police.

Khudian police informed other police stations through wireless and chased the suspects who were intercepted at village Bhagiana near Allahabad Town at a picket. Seeing the police, the suspects entered nearby fields and opened fire at police that was retaliated.

After the firing stopped, the police recovered Riffat`s body in the fields. They claimed Riffat was shot dead by his own accomplices who had managed to escape.

The police also registered a murder case against the unidentified accomplices of Riffat.