Imphal, April 13 :    Imphal, April 13:  Relatives and friends of People's Liberation Army rebels today found a statue of Lord Mahadev at the martyrs' tomb of the outfit located at Cheiraoching hills here. They had converged there after the Imphal bench of the Gauhati High Court directed the state government to allow them to pay floral tributes to PLA rebels killed by security forces. The outfit observes April 13 as 'Martyrs' Day'. The statue was allegedly installed by security personnel to prevent the PLA supporters from paying tributes. Ten PLA rebels, led by its 'acting chairman', Kunjabihari, were killed in a fierce gun-battle with the Army at Kadompokpi village in Imphal West district on this day in 1982. The government has always tried to stymie the tribute-paying occasion for nearly the past one decade, and effectively, thwart any attempts to whip up anti-national sentiments. However, a large number of sympathisers thronged the martyrs' spot armed with the High Court's permission only to find the Mahadev statue. Bhajans also played near the statue installed just five meters away from the tomb. The concrete structure of the tomb was destroyed last year by security forces. 'Martyrs' day' today coincides with the Vaishnavite Manipuri Hindu New Year, Cheiraoba. Every afternoon on this day, people climb the Cheiraoching hills to offer prayers to Hindu deities, located on the hill-top. Many devotees were seen offering prayers at the statue erected near the tomb. Police and Assam Rifles personnel were deployed in large numbers though they did not stop the PLA supporters from coming near the desecrated tomb.