Imphal, January 16, 2010: Imphal east police commandos have killed two suspected underground activists in what they said in encounter at Wakha Lambi Yangbi Khunou tonight at about 7.10 pm.

Police said they were killed as police commandos beefed up security measures ahead of the Republic Day celebration, 2010 which have started from yesterday.

They said that an AK-56 rifles loaded wit seven life rounds, one 9 mm pistol loaded with another seven live rounds recovered from the possession of the slain activists.

Police retrieved the dead bodies from the spot and kept at RIMS morgue for official identification.

The encounter took place when security forces intensified its patrolling nearby the places in foothills with the assumption that undergrounds are likely to come down from hills to valley for carrying out disturbing activities ahead of the Republic Day celebration.

Security forces have been giving special attention to the places nearby the foothills to prevent any disturbing activities and the encounter occurred when Imphal east police commandos entered to the area close to the foothill of Wakha as part of its routine patrolling tonight, the police added.

When the police commando entered to the area, some undergrounds came down from the uphill.

On seeing them, police commandos took position and ordered them to lay arms in their possession and up their hands.

But instead of getting positive response, they opened fired towards the police commandos who instantly returned the firing.

After the exchange of fire ceased, they found the two dead bodies lying on the ground with arms in their possession, police added.