Imphal, February 06: With the first phase polling scheduled to be held on February 8, poll related violence has been on the rise even as reports of frequent clashes among armed groups, owing allegiance to different candidates in Saitu AC of Senapati district have been coming with at least five killed in the last few days.

Today too, two UG groups reportedly exchanged firing for around 3 hours at Gopijang under Sapermeina Police Station and police have confirmed the death of two UG activists in the incident.

According to information received here, of the two slain UGs one belonged to KNF while the other to KNA.

While the slain KNF activist is identified as Hengoumang Kipgen (18) s/o late Sailien Kipgen of Selsei village, Senapati district, the slain KNA activist is said to be one Seikhokai Haokip (19) s/o Doumang Haokip of Saitu village.

Both the bodies have been handed over to their respective family members after post-mortem at Kangpokpi PHC.

Further there were reports of the death of two suspected activists of the KNF (P) at Ireng village under Sapermeina Police Station on February 4. According to latest reports however, the two deceased, Paotinmang Kipgen (20) and Letkhosei Kipgen (18), both residents of Phayeng village whose bodies were recovered from Ireng village located 55 kms south of Sapermeina Police Station, were allegedly beaten to death by suspected cadres of KNA at around 3 pm of February 3. After this incident, one Paokholun Haokip (27) who was allegedly a member of the proscribed KNA and was a Congress worker for a candidate in Sadar Hills was found shot dead at Kholet village under Sapermeina Police Station after he was called out from his home at around 11.20 pm of February 3. All the bodies were handed over to their respective families after post-mortem at Kangpokpi PHC, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a bomb allegedly hurled by unidentified persons reportedly exploded near the gate of the Tera Sapam Leikai residence of Independent candidate from Patsoi AC Sapam Keba under Lamphel Police Station at around 2 am today.

Though no one was hurt in the incident, the explosion created a 5 inch deep and half a feet wide crater at the site.

However, police have not recovered even a splinter of the bomb, according to sources.