Police nabbed three men suspected of being involved in housebreakings and cattle theft after a high-speed chase and a shootout at Bukit Selambau here Sunday.

Kuala Muda District Police chief Supt Saifi Abdul Hamid said the event leading to the arrests was an assault on two men by a group of individuals at an entertainment centre at 4.30 pm.

"One of the victims managed to escape unharmed despite being assaulted and shot at. He contacted the police to save his friend who was abducted by the group," he said via a statement.

He said a police team and members of the Kuala Muda District Police Headquarters CID task force rushed to the location and spotted two cars, a Naza Ria and Proton Aeroback, driven by the suspects.

He said the two cars sped off and the suspects in the Naza Ria fired twice at the police who were in hot pursuit.

"A retaliatory shot by the pursuing Task Force members hit the Naza Ria's tyre in front of a petrol kiosk in Bukit Selambau town and it skidded to the left of the road in front of Sekolah Menengah Bukit Selambau.

"There was a tussle and police managed to overpower two of four suspects who exited the car. The other two managed to escape and the abducted man was also found in the car tied up and bruised.

"Soon after, the Task Force also detained one of the suspects from the Naza Kia who had managed to run away in Bukit Selambau town," he said, adding that the suspects in the other car managed to escape.

Saiful said a check on the Naza Ria's engine found the chasis numbers had been changed and police also found three parang, three canes, a knife and housebreaking tools.

"Police also found drug-taking utensils and a tranquiliser tool for tranquilising and stealing cows, " he explained. -- Bernama