Imphal, August 17 2010: Two underground activists were killed in an alleged encounter with Thoubal Police Commandos tonight even as two others were nabbed in other counter insurgency operations, police reports said.

Thoubal police commandos killed the two suspected UG activists at about 6 pm today in an alleged encounter at Sarik Konjil under Waikhong police station of Thoubal district.

Police claimed to have recovered two weapons�one AK-57 rifle and one 9 mm pistol loaded with some live rounds, and two hand grenades from the slain cadres.

Police said, the encounter occurred when the police commandos' team, based on specific information of presence of some underground activists in the area, rushed to the spot.

When the police team reached Sarik Konjil area, they were fired upon by some well-armed underground cadres, and the commandos instantly retaliated the firing.

The exchange of fire lasted for about 10 minutes.

After the UGs stopped firing, the police commandos combed the area and found two dead bodies with bullet injuries in various parts of the bodies.

Waikhong police retrieved the dead bodies from the spot and transferred the same to RIMS morgue for official identification.

Meanwhile, Thoubal police commandos also apprehended an activist of PREPAK identified as Naorem Bisheshwor (28), son of N Biren of Samaram Mamang Leikai yesterday around 7.30 pm from Khongjom Bazar.

He is said to be working in the finance section of the outfit, and involved in extortion of money from the general public of Khongjom areas, a statement of Senior SP, Thoubal district, Clay Khongsai said.

In another incident, Imphal West district police commandos posted at Sekmai police also nabbed another PREPAK activist identified as Mutum Ranjan @ Sony Khaba (30), son of M Khelendro of Wangkhei Ayangpalli from his house at about 8.30 am today, a press release of the Senior SP, Imphal West district said. The press release further alleged him of involving in extortion of money from contractors and handing over to one Pakpa, a PREPAK sympathizer for party funds.

On the other hand, during a massive search operation conducted by the Manipur police commandos late this afternoon in the high security zone of Imphal near the Manipur Secretariat, empty magazines appeared to be that of LMG and arm-butts contained in plank-boxes were recovered.

The items were found from a godown in the Printing and Stationary office campus by the police.

The labels with "IG-BSF" were pasted on the containers.

A full mini-truck load of items including the empty magazines of fire-arms and gun-butts was recovered from the area.

It is not clear from where those items came from.

The police too have no clue.

The police commandos carried out the search operation in the complexes of DIPR, MRSTC and the Printing and Stationary.

However, no one was arrested during the operation.

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