Marine Corps: 15 drill instructors under investigation

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Marine Corps is investigating allegations of hazing, assault and physical abuse involving 15 drill instructors at its Parris Island training installation in South Carolina.

The general in charge of Marine Corps training and education at Quantico, Va., said in a statement released Thursday that the allegations stem from an investigation into the death of a Parris Island recruit in March.

The Naval Criminal Investigation Service has said 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui of Taylor, Mich., died after falling nearly 40 feet in a stairwell at the installation.

Maj. Gen. James W. Lukeman said all the Marines under investigation have been assigned to duties that do not involve recruits. Parris Island is one of the Marine Corps' two basic-training installations.

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