Imphal, August 21: Unidentified persons opened fire and deflated the tyres of a passenger bus plying in between Imphal and Heirok while a bomb was recovered from a Thoubal district area today.

As per police sources, the passenger bus (MN01/0571) with about 30 on board were coming toward Imphal when two motor-cycle borne youths pumped bullets at the rear and front wheels on the right side thereby puncturing the tyres.

Speculating that the attackers might be UNLF activists, police sources informed that the incident took place at around 5.15 am in between Wangjing Sorokhaibam and Wangjing Tekcham Leikai in Thoubal district.

According to a statement issued by SP (Thoubal) Clay Khongsai "today at about 7 am acting on information about the presence of some UNLF cadres responsible for shooting the bus tyres at Wangjing Tekcham Leikai at about 5 am Thoubal team police commandos launched search operations at Salungpham and arrested two UNLF sympathisers".

Identifying the duo as Sarangthem Premkumar Singh alias Ingocha (25) s/o (L) S Sanakhomba Singh of Salungpham Mayai Leikai and maibam Doren Singh (32) s/o M Yaiskul Singh of Salungpham Mamang Bazar, the SP's statement further informed that commando team have recovered one Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle red in colour and bearing Regd No MN04B/3025 'which was used by the militants for committing the crime'.

In another counter insurgency operations at Wangjing Wangkhei Laikon at around 5 am today, commandos of Thoubal district arrested one KYKL cadre namely Laimujam Amuba Singh alias Amu (38) son of L Shyamo Singh of Wangjing Wangkhei Laikon Leikai, the SP added.

On the otherhand, the explosive device wrapped in plastic and recovered from Yairipok Santibon Bazar in Thoubal district at around 7 am today has been recovered by police bomb experts.