Imphal, June 23 2009: A team of Imphal East district police commandos shot dead two suspected drug traffickers in an encounter at Heingang Hannajing of Heingangkhong on Imphal-Saikul road, half a km east of Hingang Police Station 8.10 pm tonight.

The commandos recovered one 9 mm pistol along with a magazine containing four live rounds, one .36 Chinese handgrenade, one mobile phone (Nokia1100), a huge quantity of SP capsules and N-10 tablets worth about Rs 5 lakh and one red colour Maruti van (MN-06L 1899) from the two deceased persons.

Police told reporters at the spot that they had received information regarding movement of some persons who traffick drugs using guns and bombs in that area.

On receiving such a tip off today, the team of police commandos rushed there and found one red colour Maruti van carrying some suspicious looking characters moving in that area.

When the police team ordered the persons in the van to stop, instead of stopping they opened fire towards the police and drove away.

Then the police commandos retaliated and a short encounter ensued.

Later, after the firing had stopped, the police checked the van and found two persons in the front seat lying dead.

On further checking, police found the weapons and huge qauntity of drugs i.e.SP capsules and N-10 tablets being carried in the van, police said.