Police confirmed three soldiers with heavy weaponry were shot dead and one was arrested, the People’s Daily website reported.

The four soldiers, identified as Lin Penghan, Yang Fan, Li Xinxin and Zhang Xiyan, escaped from a garrison stationed in northeast China Jilin Province were found in Liaoning, a neighbouring province.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the soldiers drove south “for at least eight hours, covering between 300 and 400 miles, before they were stopped by special forces on the motorway”.

They were said to be on their way to one of the soldiers’ hometown when being stopped by the police.

Rumor has it that the soldiers fired at the police during the arresting and alleged witness posted a picture showing some bodies beside a green and yellow taxi, but the local police have not confirm the firing.

Reports relating to the news widely circulated on the Internet and were later deleted from all major websites in China.

Local police launched a manhunt for the four soldiers that had stolen an automatic rifle and 795 bullets and warned local shops of possible rubbery.