Lt Col, Major face court martial for manhandling 3 subordinates

Vijay Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5

Two Army doctors, a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, are facing trial by general court martial (GCM) for allegedly manhandling and misbehaving with three subordinates during a social function at an Army training centre.

Five charges have been levelled against the officers under Sections 45 and 47 of the Army Act for behaving in a manner unbecoming of an officer, and using criminal force to a person subordinate in rank, sources said. The GCM, convened recently by General Officer Commanding, Purva Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Sub Area, Maj Gen RR Bhat is in progress.

The incident had taken place at the Dogra Regimental Centre when the station’s quick reaction team (QRT), headed by a non-commissioned officer (NCO) was summoned over a disturbance during the function.

The officers have been accused of forcibly pulling the NCO’s service rifle, pushing and slapping him and pulling his uniform belt. Sources said the NCO had been in an inebriated state when on duty and was also later tried by a summary court martial.

The Major has also been charged with snatching the mobile of a junior commissioned officer (JCO), pushing him by the neck and forcibly holding the arm of another JCO and slapping him.

The Lieutenant Colonel has also been charged with attempting to influence the fair medical diagnosis of the NCO and a JCO involved in the matter by telling the duty medical officer that they were consuming alcohol chronically.

Another Major from the Regimental Centre is also facing five charges of inappropriate behaviour that include hitting a civilian disc jockey at the aforementioned function and disobeying lawful command by not meeting his superior officer when directed to do so.