IMPHAL, May 31 � Yesterday was a black day for security service organisations in Manipur. In all 14 security personnel � 10 of 165 battalion of Territorial Army, three of 4 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and one of CRPF, died in two separate road accidents.
Three IRB men, including a havildar, died and another seriously injured when the Alto car they were travelling in plunged into a roadside ditch after hitting a culvert on NH-39 around 12.30 pm yesterday.
The incident took place between Tangrei and Potshangbam on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39, around 18 km north of here under Sekmai Police Station when the IRB men were on their way to Imphal.
Havildar Ch Romesh, M Sanjoy and Kh Bishewor were killed on the spot while Havildar Angam Gangmei sustained serious injury in the accident.
Barely two hours later at least 11 soldiers, including one CRPF jawan, died when a Territorial Army vehicle fell down into a deep gorge at a place between Tupul and Kotlien area of Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53. Three others sustained serious injuries. They have been shifted to Leimakhong Army Hospital, reports said. The deceased army men belong to 165 battalion of Territorial Army.
The report said that the Territorial Armymen based at Leimakhong and the CRPF personnel in civil dress were picked up from Nungba area.
