LAHORE: Police claimed on Saturday to have killed four `robbers` in an `encounter` in Harbanspura.

According to police, a citizen Asif called helpline 15 that robbers were looting people near Salamatpura graveyard.

The police reached the spot. On seeing the team, the suspects opened fire which was retaliated. After the firing, police found four suspects dead.

Police said accomplices of the suspects managed their escape taking benefit of darkness.

A heavy police contingent rushed to the spot after receiving information about the encounter and launched a search operation in nearby areas to hunt the fleeing suspects.

Police collected forensic evidence and removed the bodies to morgue for autopsy.

The deceased were aged between 17 and 30 years.

Police have registered a case against the robbers on the complaint of Harbanspura SHO Ehsan Ashraf.

According to a police officer, the suspected robbers were also involved in killing a young man over resistance some three days ago in Harbanspura.

Faisal, 25, of Salamatpura and his brother Shehzad were on their way to Shahpur Kanjran cattle market when they were stopped by unidentified robbers. The suspects snatched Rs200,000 and shot dead Faisal.-Reporter