Imphal, May 10 2010: An AK-47 assault rifle and two tear gas guns were snatched away during Thursday's melee at Mao gate, police reports confirmed.

On the other hand, the dead bodies of the two youths, who were killed during the mob melee, are still lying at the Mao Police Station as unclaimed bodies.

A case registered with the Mao Police Station in Senapati district, while confirming the missing of the arms, states that an AK-47 rifle along with three magazines of a policeman and two tear gas guns, one each from a policeman and a Manipur Rifles personnel were snatched away by some youths who took part in the protest at Mao gate on Thursday last.

The case report also states that during the melee, two youths, N Chakhao Mao (20), son of Late Nele of Kalinamei village and Loshuwo Mao (20), son of late Dikho Mao of the same village died.

Two policemen were seriously injured when a group of protesters beat them up.

The group of protesters stormed the Temporary barrack of policemen and MR riflemen located at Mao town.

The brief of the case registered under section 148/149/307/35/353/384/188/427/34 of IPC stated that around 3000 men and women gathered at Mao gate and Mao Island unlawfully defying the prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC.

The mob suddenly started running towards the Mao gate and stoned the police station without caring for the life and property of the police station and policemen manning the station, despite repeated warning to stop, the case report of the Officer in-Charge of the PS, Inspector S Lokhio stated.

Apart from pelting stones, they also carried deadly weapons and started destroying police vehicles parked at the station.

In the melee, protesters snatched away an AK-47 rifle along with three magazines and two tear gas guns.

In the violent activities of the mob, two police personnel were seriously injured.

A police vehicle (MN01-1087 MT/IW) and rations of the MR personnel were burnt down by the mob during the melee which prompted the police and MR personnel to fire tear gas shells and use of other mob dispersion devices.

All the bedding materials and rations were burnt down before the police and security forces could put the mob under control.

Later, two of the youths in the mob that burnt down bedding materials, were found dead, the case report stated.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the dead bodies will not be taken back until the government withdraw the State security force deployed at Mao gate and the prohibitory orders promulgated at Mao town under Section 144 of CrPC is lifted, the latest situation report of the border town of the police stated.

Mention may be made that the authority of Senapati district has notified that if the two dead bodies are not claimed by the families and relatives within 24-hours, the bodies would be disposed.

The deadline would expire today.

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