Two criminals were shot dead late Friday night while two of their accomplices managed to escape in an encounter with police which ensued when they took eight members of a family hostage in Palam Vihar area of the district, a top police officer said.

Eight members of a family, including two children, were taken hostage in their house by the four criminals. However, one of the hostages managed to call the police, which immediately reached the spot and asked the criminals to release the family.