Chandigarh, September 5
The Army has removed a Major-General commanding a strategically vital infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir after a woman officer alleged sexual harassment by him, it is learnt. A written complaint had been made against Maj-Gen A.K. Lal, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Leh-based 3 Infantry Division.

He has been attached with Headquarters 15 Corps at Srinagar for further action. An official spokesperson for the Corps Headquarters said that the orders to attach the Major-General were issued yesterday. He maintained that the complainant had raised the issue of the personal conduct of the GOC.

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry (CoI) to investigate the allegations against the officer. The CoI is expected to be headed by a Lieutenant General. Though there have been instances of infraction by general officers in the past and action has been taken against them, this is the first known instance where a General has been removed from command on the complaint of a woman officer.

Sources familiar with the case revealed that the parents of the woman officer, a captain, had written to the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen J.J. Singh. They had alleged that their daughter was being harassed by the GOC. Sources claimed that the GOC used to call her on the pretext of learning yoga, where he allegedly misbehaved with her.

Official sources at Army Headquarters, when contacted, said that a complaint against the General had been received and the matter was under investigation, but declined to comment on the contents of the complaint.

The orders to initiate action against the Major-General were, reportedly, issued by the Army chief on the basis of the complaint. The Army chief happened to be on an official visit to Srinagar today.