Imphal, March 17 2010: Security forces have gunned down three underground suspects in separate incidents of gun-fights at Chandel and Imphal West districts in the past 48 hours.

While two persons said to be PLA cadres were slain in clashes with personnel of 21 Para Troopers at New Tolen and Warokching areas of Chandel district this morning, a team of Imphal West police commandos killed a UG suspect in between Taothong and Tharoijam yesterday afternoon.

Regarding the Chandel district clash, a PRO IGAR (S) release said troops of Assam Rifles and Army under IGAR (S) shot dead two PLA cadres during the course of a search operation in the surrounding areas of Tolen village in the early hours today.

During the course of the search operation, a firefight triggered by the armed cadres broke out when they were challenged by a party of the security forces, it maintained adding that two bodies were recovered on termination of the firefight.

Bodies of two PLA cadres likely to be those of SS 2nd Lt Nongleiba and SS Cpl Jack Meitei have been recovered from the adjoining forested areas of Tolen, so far, the PRO release informed while listing one sophisticated satellite phone and a radio set among the recoveries which include sophisticated weapons and huge quantity of ammunition/bombs.

More recoveries of injured UGs and their equipment are expected during the ongoing search, the PRO said.

A police source quoting Army report said, personnel of 21 Para Troopers were deployed on a specific search operation at Tolen village of chandel district since about 5 am when an encounter broke out.

Besides slaying two of the UGs suspected to be PLA cadres, the Para Troopers reported recovery of two AK series rifles, same number of UMGs, and one each M-4 rifle, lathode gun, RPG launcher and 9 mm pistol as well as large quantity of ammunition and explosives.

villagers told a group of mediapersons that including the shoot-out today, Tolen and nearby villages had witnessed atleast three fierce clashes between PLA cadres and security forces.

It is informed that the Army personnel launched search operation from about 2.30 am today from the direction of Salungpham in Thoubal district towards Merryland of Chandel district.

As soon as the troops advanced towards the nearby New Tolen village gunshots and bomb explosions were heard till about 6 am.

New Tolen village is said to be about 2/3 hours walking distance from Tolen village on the hill range.

Villagers also speculate that some PLA cadres might have suffered injuries in the clash.

On the otherhand the Army team handed over two bodies to Thoubal police station with the report of both being slain in today's encounter.

Both the corpses, one of them severely charred and clad in combat uniform, have been brought to RIMS morgue.

Meanwhile, identity of the individual gunned-down by Imphal West police commandos along the inter village road connecting Taothang to Tharoijam at around 2.50 pm yesterday, has been established as one Khumbongmayum Oshorjit (23) s/o Ibochouba of Keisampat Jailor Leirak.

Police claimed to have recovered one .32 pistol, two live rounds, a mobile phone handset from the possession of deceased.

Moreover, a Honda Activa scooter seized from deceased said to have a RC book wherein registration was entered as MN01M/8382 .

Family members contending that Oshorjit was innocent refused to claim the body and is still laying at RIMS morgue.

In protest against the killing a sit-in demonstration cum public meeting was held today near Hotel Excellency.

The protestors raised slogans and put up banners holding the Chief Minister responsible for the police commandos unleashing alleged reign of terror and branding innocent persons as UG activists after eliminating them.

The meeting also decided to submit a memorandum to the CM tomorrow.