Imphal, April 11: A combined force of Bishnupur Police Commandos and personnel of 15 J & K Light Infantry claimed to have killed two suspected underground activists during an encounter near Potsangbam playground, 7 kms south of Bishnupur Police Station in the wee hours today.

The two UG suspects reportedly came riding on a Honda Activa (MN01-N/9871).The combined force claimed to have recovered two 9 mm pistols, nine rounds of 9 mm ammunition, a Nokia handset with SIM card and 10 demand letters of the proscribed PREPAK from their possession.

The identities of the slain two UG suspects are yet to be established by the police.

However, according to information received by the press, the slain UG suspects may be Ngangbam Dhanajit alias Ibomcha (32) s/o Mangi of Uripok Bachaspati Leikai and one Robinson of Uripok Achom Leikai.

It is said that it has been around half a month since Dhanajit came out from a rehabilitation centre at Singda in connection with his treatment on drug addiction.

He had gone out of the house in the morning yesterday.

A statement issued by SP of Bishnupur district Jayanta in connection with the incident said that at about 12.20 am today, a combined team of Bishnupur District Police Commandos and 15 JKLI, Bishnupur who were conducting an operation near Kha-Potsangbam along Tiddim Road have an encounter with unknown UGs in which two of them suspected to be member of PREPAK were killed.

Two pistol and seven live ammunition and come incriminating documents of PREPAK organisation and articles including one handset of Nokia with SIM card and one Honda Activa bearing registration number MN01N/9871 have been recovered.

A case has been registered at Bishnupur Police Station under FIR No.43(4)08 Bishnupur Police u/s 307/34 IPC, 25 (I-C) A Act and 20/16(1) UA (P) A Act, 04.In connection with the incident, a statement released by PIB (Defence Wing) said in a well-planned and co-ordinated joint operation conducted by troops of 57 Mountain Division and Bishnupur Police Commandos, two unidentified militants were gunned down Potsangbam today.

On a tip off from the police about two suspected PREPAK militants carrying out extortion in Ningthoukhong area, troops of 15 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry along with a column of Bishnupur Police Commandos swung into action and established mobile check posts to check the movement of the UGs.

At about midnight of April 10 and 11, the youths approaching a mobile check post on a speeding scooter were signalled to stop.

But they opened fire after alighting from the scooter and tried to escape.

In the ensuing gun fight both the militants were killed and two pistols and one Honda Activa scooter recovered from the site.

Meanwhile, the police have been picked up and deposited the same in the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

Both the bodies bore bullet marks on their stomach, chest and thigh.