Imphal | Two persons collecting firewood in a forest were allegedly killed by suspected militants in Manipur on Monday, triggering protests by locals who placed the bodies outside the chief minister's residence in Imphal.

Four others were also injured as militants allegedly opened fire on a group of firewood collectors at the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, officials said.

Three persons are still missing in the incident that happened in Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi, a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East, they said.

The deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil (35) and Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51). They were among 16 people who had gone to the hills near their village around 7 am to collect firewood when they were ambushed, officials said.

Angry locals brought the bodies to the state capital to protest the violence that has plagued the state since May 2023. They placed the bodies outside the main gate of the chief minister's residence in Babupara.

It was not immediately known whether Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was present at the residence during the protest.

Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, following which the bodies were taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

One of the injured, identified as Ksh Deven, was stated to be in a serious condition, officials said.