Hyderabad, June 1 (IANS) Two criminals were hacked to death and another injured in an attack by unidentified people in broad daylight here Wednesday, police said.

According to police, the criminals were attacked with daggers in the busy Kishan Bagh neighbourhood in old city of Hyderabad.

While Ijaz Ahmed died on the spot, his friend Imran succumbed to injuries at the government-run Osmania Hospital. A third person was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The incident sent panic among people in the area as shopkeepers around the scene of the incident downed shutters.

Police suspect the involvement of a rival gang in the attack.

The three had several criminal cases pending against them in various police stations in the city.

The attack took place just a few hours after Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the police were keeping a vigil on people having criminal record. He said eight criminals were externed from the city.