Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30 2010:
It was black Sunday today for different security service organisations.
In all 14 security personnel�three of 4th IRB, 10 of 165 battalion of Territorial Army (Home and Hearth) and one of CRPF died in two separate accidents which occurred in different places.
Three IRB personnel including a havildar died and another seriously injured when the vehicle they were travelling in plunged into the roadside drainage after hitting a culvert on NH-39 today.
The personnel belonging to the 4th IRB in civvies were returning from Sekmai on the stretch of the highway where they went for their personnel work, said police.
There were four personnel in the Alto car.
The accident occurred at about 12.30 pm at a place between Tangrei and Potshangbam on the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39, 4 km towards Imphal from Sekmai Police Station when the Alto car (MN0K-2869) they were travelling in turned turtle, and fell into a deep roadside drain.
Havildar Ch Romesh (30), (service no.407701) of Sunu Siphai in Bishnupur district, M Sanjoy (28), (riflemen no.406690) of Luwangshangbam in Imphal West and Kh Bishewor (30), (rif no.405012) of Phubala in Bishnupur district� succumbed to their injuries at the spot.
The other personnel, Havildar Angam Gangmei (service no.407701) of Chingmeirong Kabui village in Imphal West, sustained serious injury in the accident.
He has been admitted to RIMS Hospital.
His condition is serous but out of danger, hospital source said.
The vehicle met with self accident, police said clarifying that they were not in official duty.
At least 11 army soldiers including one CRPF died when a army (territorial army) convoy fell down into a dip gorge at a place between Tupul and Kotlien mountainous region of Imphal-Jiribam section of the NH-53 this afternoon, at about 2.30 pm.
Three others also sustained serious injuries.
They have been evacuated at Leimakhong Army Hospital, reports said.
The report said that the Territorial Army based at Leimakhong and the CRPF personnel in civil dress was picked up from Nungba area.
The dead bodies have been retrieved from the spot by the police and transferred at RIMS morgue.
Army sources said the accident occurred when an army vehicle went off the road on national highway 53 between Tupul and Kotlien villages around 2.30 pm today.
The army convoy was its way to Imphal.
Meanwhile, a statement of the Press Information Bureau (Defense Wing) expressed deep and sorrowed while announcing that the 11 soldiers including a CRPF jawan died in the unfortunate incident.
The Army soldiers belonged to 165 battalion of Territorial Army (Home and Hearth).
Most of the departed soldiers belonged to Manipur state and arrangements from military funerals and farewell services are being made, the statement added.
"Our hearts go out to the brave family and we pray to the almighty to bless the departed souls", the statement said.