Officer caught with Kashmiri woman faces punishment: Army Chief
New Delhi, Sep 4 : Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday said court martial proceedings will be initiated against the officer who was caught with a woman in a Srinagar hotel on May 23 and he will be suitably punished.
"I have very clearly said that any case of moral turpitude and corruption will be dealt with in a very stern manner," Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of an Army function here.
He was replying to a question about Major Leetul Gogoi, who has been indicted by a court of inquiry on two counts: for fraternizing with a local in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in an operational area.
The Army chief said the probe had recommended that "action will be taken (against the officer) based on his guilt that emerges from this".
"If it is related directly to moral turpitude, then we will take action accordingly. If it is something else, then punishment will be given according to the crime he has committed. We should go in for court martial proceedings for whatever he has been found guilty of."
Major Gogoi was caught on May 23 in a Srinagar hotel with a Kashmiri woman and a man who works for the Army. He was questioned by police and was let off after the woman told the police that she had wilfully accompanied the officer.
Gen Rawat, during a visit to Srinagar after the incident, said "strictest possible action" would be taken if Major Gogoi was found guilty "of any offence".
Major Gogoi hit the headlines in April 2017 when he tied Farooq Dar, a Kashmiri artisan, to the bonnet of his military vehicle to deter stone pelters from attacking his troops and election staff in Budgam district in the Kashmir Valley.
The incident took place after last year's by-elections in the Valley. An FIR was filed against Major Gogoi after the April 9 incident.
The officer, who is said to have been effective in counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley, was awarded a commendation certificate by the Army chief last year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
7 held in election-related violence in Assam: Police
Guwahati, Apr 9 (PTI) Seven people were held in connection with election-related violence at two places in Assam, officials said on Thursday.
Besides, minor clashes also erupted at several polling booths after voting began in the morning, with people suffering minor injuries, they said.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Akhilesh Kumar Singh, told PTI that violence took place in Tamulpur and Sivasagar on Wednesday night, hours before polling began for the assembly elections at 7 am.
"We got reports of a clash between two groups at Tamulpur last night. Police reached the spot immediately and tried to control the crowd. When they did not listen, a few rounds were fired in the air to disperse the mob," he said, adding that four people were arrested from the site.
In another incident, two to three members of a political party were attacked in Sivasagar, the IG said.
"We have detained three persons there. The investigation is going on," he said.
Akhil Gogoi, who is seeking re-election from the Sibsagar seat, alleged that BJP nominee Kushal Dowari was behind the incident.
In a series of social media posts, Gogoi claimed two people were injured, and their vehicles were also damaged in the attack.
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary said a detailed enquiry will reveal the cause of the clash in Tamulpur.
"The situation is normal now. We are monitoring it, and there is enough security presence to avoid any untoward incident," he said.
Polling is underway for the 126-member assembly to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates. It will continue till 5 pm, with May 4 scheduled for the counting of votes.
A number of minor clashes have erupted at several polling stations in Sribhumi, Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
"Most of the clashes took place due to heavy rush, with people fighting over breaking the queue," an official said.
At some polling booths in places like Patharkandi, Merapani and Raha, supporters of ruling and opposition parties clashed, he said.
"However, police were already present in those areas, and the situations were handled instantly. The polling is going on uninterrupted," he added.
The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power in these elections, while the Congress is looking to reclaim the state it lost a decade ago.
