15 security men killed in Manipur accidents

IMPHAL - At least 15 security personnel, including 12 troopers of the Territorial Army, were killed and three injured Sunday in two separate road accidents in northeastern state of Manipur, officials said.

A police spokesperson said 12 troopers of the Territorial Army were killed late Sunday near village Kotlen, about 30 km northwest of capital Imphal.

“The soldiers were returning to their base in Imphal from duty when the truck in which they were travelling veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge,” a police official said.

Twelve were killed on the spot and some are injured.

“We are yet to get the full details of the accident. We presume there could be at least 20 soldiers in the truck,” the official said.

Territorial Army troopers are generally deployed to guard vulnerable areas and facilities, and are used for counter insurgency operations only in emergency situations.

In another incident earlier Sunday, a truck carrying soldiers of the India Reserve Battalion fell into a gorge near village Korengei, about 8 km north of Imphal.

“Three of them were killed and as many were injured in the accident,” the official said.