Srinagar hotel case: Army to initiate action against Major Gogoi

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 27

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The Army will initiate court-martial proceedings against Major Leetul Gogoi for maintaining relations with a local woman in Kashmir and for allegedly being away from his place of posting.

Sources told The Tribune that a Court of Inquiry against Major Gogoi had issued orders to initiate disciplinary action on two counts.

He was held accountable for 'fraternising with locals in spite of instructions to the contrary'. The other charge is being away from the place of duty while in an operational area.

Major Gogoi was detained by Jammu and Kashmir Police on May 23 from a Srinagar hotel, along with a local woman and another soldier.

The woman detained along with Major Gogoi was 19 and had gone with the officer of her own volition, Jammu and Kashmir Police had said; hence, no police case was made out.

However, the Army rules did not allow Gogoi to be let off without punishment.

After the incident, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had announced exemplary punishment for Major Gogoi in case he was found guilty of any offence.

Last year, Major Gogoi had been accused of using a youth in Budgam district as a human shield. Gen Rawat had awarded him and supported his act then.