Eight persons, including five alleged criminals, were killed and six others injured when two jeeps collided in Rajasthan's Churu district, police said today.
The incident occurred yesterday when the alleged criminals were fleeing after opening fire at a police party in Bhaleri police station area.
Their jeep collided head-on with another resulting in the death of eight persons, Bhaleri Circle Officer Rajendra Prasad said.
While five of the deceased were claimed to have criminal record, three others were passengers of the second jeep, he said.
"The criminals, hailing from Haryana, were called by one Manroop Singh of Kohina village to a resolve a land-related dispute with his (Manroop's) cousin Jai Singh," Prasad said.
When police reached the village being tipped-off about their presence by Jai Singh, the criminals fired three-rounds at them and fled, prompting the police to return the fire, the Circle Officer said. However, no one was injured in the exchange of firing.
While fleeing at a high speed the vehicle in which they were travelling collided with another jeep coming from Bhaleri town.
While four of the six injured are being treated at a local hospital, two others have been admitted to SMS hospital in Jaipur, he said.
The accused have been apprehended and are being interrogated, Kumar added.
