Imphal, April 19: Two brothers (cousins) were shot dead by unidentified armed persons near Keibi Kumuda Mamang Thandabi canal, about 26 kms West of Lamlai police station last night.

The deceased brothers are identified as Paominthang Guite (22) s/o Tongkham, of Laikot village Churachandpur district and Thangkhenlal Guite alias Inaocha (24) s/o late Seikam of Laikot village, but staying at Khamenlok village.

Tongkham Guite and Seikam were brothers.

The two corpses were discovered by the villagers of Keibi Kumuda this morning.

Paominthang was found with his hands tied behind.

Two fatal bullet marks were observed on the right side of his neck.

He also bore burn marks on his stomach.

It is reported that Paominthang was a student.

Thangkhenlal was hit by a bullet just behind his left ear.

Burn wounds were also observed on his stomach.

He was engaging himself in cultivation.

According to family members, Thangkhenlal went to Imphal at about 8 am yesterday to receive Paominthang who was coming from Churachandpur.

Both of them had one mobile phone each.

At about 8 last night, when Thangkhenlal's elder brother called him up through cell phone, Thangkhenlal said that they (Thangkhenlal and Paominthang) were at Nongshum.

Saying that they were caught in a tricky situation at the moment, Thangkhenlal reportedly told his brother not to ring him again.

Lamlai police retrieved the corpse and deposited the same at RIMS mortuary.

In another case, a suspected underground cadre was killed in an encounter with a combined force of Imphal East commandos and troops of 21 AR at Keirak under Kakching police station at about 3.45 pm today.

According to police sources, the encounter ensued when the combined force moved in to the area on receiving a specific information.

It is reported that one 9 mm pistol and five live rounds were recovered from the slain individual.

Police have deposited the corpse at RIMS mortuary.