The assailants – Yogendra Singh Yadav and Vishal Singh from Jalesar and Bhuri Singh alias Bhura from Satrauli – have been identified as close relatives of a truck driver whom the undertrials had allegedly killed last August.

“The criminals attacked the undertrials to avenge his murder, for which the duo was lodged in Aligarh jail since January,” said Brij Bhushan, Deputy Inspector General of Aligarh Range.

Learning of the news, the families reached the Hathras Kotwali and requested the police to show them the bodies. The bodies were formally identified on Sunday evening, said Bhushan.

On Saturday, the assailants shot the undertrials – Kamlesh Yadav and Satyavir of Etah – as they were coming out after the hearing.

The policemen escorting the accused retaliated and killed the assailants. According to the police, Yadav and Satyavir allegedly killed truck driver Awadhesh, left the truck abandoned in Farrukhabad and decamped with the goods in August 2008.

“We are collecting details about the antecedents of the criminals,” said Bhushan. While Bhura was Awadhesh’s brother Yogendra and Vishal were the brother-in-law and cousin of the slain driver respectively, said an officer.