The local residents of Hyderabad on Friday hailed the policemen after the four accused in the gang-rape and gruesome murder of a government veterinarian were killed in an encounter earlier this morning.According to reports, a large number of locals gathered at the encounter site and shouted ''Hyderabad Police Zindabad'' and ''Telangana Police Zindabad.''

Some of them even showered rose petals on the police officials who had reached the encounter site to take stock of the situation.

The neighbours of the woman veterinarian tied rakhi to police personnel after the four accused were killed in an encounter here. Around 3 am, all the four accused -  Mohammad Areef, Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Chintakunta Chennakesha vulu - had been taken to the spot for recreation of the crime scene when they tried to escape.When the police asked them to surrender, they started pelting stones, forcing the policemen to open fire in self-defence during which they were killed.

It is also being said that the four accused tried to snatch weapons from the police officials too, after which, the police, in self-defence, opened fire on them. Confirming the development, Telangana Police said, ''All four people accused in the rape and murder of woman veterinarian in Telangana have been killed in an encounter with the police.'' They were gunned down at the same spot where the accused had dumped the victim`s body and set it afire on the night of November 27 after the gang-rape near Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Minutes after the encounter, senior Telangana policeofficials arrived at the site to take stock of the situation.

Reacting to the development, the victim's father said, ''mydaughter got justice today.'' ''It has been 10 days to the day my daughter died.I express my gratitude towards the police and the government for this. Mydaughter's soul must be at peace now,'' he added.

The late doctor's sister said, ''I want to thank theTelangana Police, Telangana government and the media for their support to us.''