Bhopal: The eight members of SIMI who were shot dead in Bhopal hours after escaping from jail were not armed when they were killed, the chief of Madhya Pradesh’s anti-terror squad told NDTV yesterday.

However, Sanjeev Shami added, “It is well settled in law when police can use force and take life. These men were dreaded criminals. If the police sees the possibility that such men can escape, they can use maximum force.”