Imphal, February 12: Unidentified gunmen shot dead three youths at Sinam Kom Maning Sansenlok under Heingang police station at around 2.30 pm today.

According to informed source, three unknown youths wielding AK series weapon were spotted at around noon yesterday at near Sansenlok village mostly settled by people belonging to the Nepali and Meitei communities.

Even though where the three stayed for the night remains unknown villagers saw them this morning walk towards Sinam Kom village purportedly to recharge their mobile phone handsets.

By afternoon, villagers working in the nearby hill slopes heard about 50 rounds of gunfire and upon descending saw bodies of two of the unknown youths at near the Sansenlok residence of one Phanjoubam Tomba (55) with the third body found at the residence of Ngagom Tomba (65) .

The weapons of the deceased three could not be found.

Local eye witnesses suggest the assailants numbered 5/6 with some wearing shawls.

Mediapersons who reached the incident site found almost the entire houses locked and the inhabitants fleeing away with elders of about 10 households huddled together at a single location.

Even though an Assam Rifles team arrived at the spot the bodies still remain at the said spot till this report was filed as the area falls under Heingang police station.