Imphal, January 16 2010: Two suspected underground members have been gunned down by a combined team at Yangbi Khunou village along the Wakha Road at about 7.30 pm today while the Assam rifles jawan who suffered bullet wound on the head during the recent operation at Loktak lake area succumbed at a private medical centre.

According to police report, security forces were put on high alert to foil attempts by UG groups from disrupting the forthcoming Republic Day celebration during which specific information was recieved regarding movement of armed cadres of unknown UG group at Wakha road.

As the combined team comprising of Imphal East district police commandos and 28 Assam Rifles moved in unidentified persons fired shots resulting in a brief gun-fight and subsequent elimination of two persons while the other accomplices managed to escape taking advantage of darkness.

The security team reportedly recovered one AK series rifle, a magazine with seven live rounds as well as one 9 mm pistol, a magazine and two rounds.

Bodies of the victims have been brought to RIMS morgue for necessary procedures.

Meanwhile, the AR personnel who sustained bullet injuries in a counter insurgency operation conducted under the command of 57 Mountain Division in Loktak lake after Operation Summer Storm has succumbed to the injuries today.

Under the command of 57 Mountain Division, a combined force of 4/8 GR, Maratha Light Infantry and 33 Assam Rifles launched a counter insurgency operations in Khordak, Nongmaikhong and Laphupat Tera on January 13 .

In the course of the operation, gun-shots were heard in Khordak area and one AR personnel was hit by a bullet on the head.

The injured personnel identified as Yumnam Raju (24) of Lamjao Mayai Leikai was brought to Shija Hospital and Research Institute.

He succumbed to the injuries at about 10.30 am today.

Citing army reports, a police source said that the gun-fight in which Raju sustained fatal injury took place at Keibul Chingmei under Moirang police station.

Except that Raju died after he was hit by a bullet, the report did not mention anything about how the gun-fight broke out; whether Raju was hit in accidental fire by fellow jawans or whether he was killed in attack by UG cadres.

Given these circumstances, family members have some suspicions on the nature of Raju's death.

Meanwhile, post mortem examination of Raju's corpse was conducted at RIMS today.

On being contacted about the counter insurgency operation, PIB (Defence Wing) said that they did not receive any definite information from Leimakhong (57 Mountain Division).

It may be mentioned here that nine PREPAK cadres were killed in the Operation Summer Storm conducted under the command of 57 Mountain Division in April last year.