Imphal, February 25: Two persons have been shot dead by unidentified persons at Ngarian hills under Irilbung police station at about 11 am today.

The two deceased are identified as Hussain Ahmad (37) and Jitherudin alias Ithem (25) s/o Zamarudin.

The belonged to Yairipok Ningthounai.

It is reported that Hussain Ahmad's wife Anwari Begum is Zilla a Parishad member of Changamdabi.

According to family members, the two left for Imphal on a Honda Activa at about 10.30 this morning.

The Honda Activa has been recovered from the site where the two were found shot dead.

In connection with the killing, a joint action committee has been constituted and its members met the Chief Minister this evening.

During the talk, the Chief Minister reportedly assured to provide ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the families of the victims and to deploy adequate security forces along the road from Yairipok to Imphal.

Following the understanding between the Chief Minister and the JAC, the corpse will be handed over to the families.

On the other hand, two suspected underground activists were shot dead by a combined force of Imphal East District Police Commandos and personnel of 32 Assam Rifles during an encounter which took place at Kongba Nongthombam Leikai under Irilbung Police Station at around 6 pm today.

They are identified as Thnagjam Suranjoy (28) of Yumnam Huidrom Makha Leikai and Yengkhom Daman (38) of Chajing Mairenkhong.

According to police source, the combined force was on frisking duty at Nongthombam Leikai crossing, when a Getz car bearing registration no.MN06L/3627 came along.

When the combined force asked occupants to stop the car, they opened fire leading to the encounter.

The two occupants were killed in the ensuing encounter and one 9 mm pistol and a hand grenade have been recovered from their possession.

Meanwhile, a hand grenade left by unidentified persons at the Singjamei Chirom leikai residence of one Nilakanta who works as the Assistant Project Officer of DRDA, Senapati has been picked up by the bomb squad at around 6.30 pm today.