<div align="justify">Despite being awarded a Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir police Tuesday said that investigation would continue against Major Leetul Gogoi in “human shield” case.<br /><br />“The FIR has been lodged and the investigation is going on (in the human shield case.) Whatever will be the outcome of the investigation is a separate question, but FIR will not be quashed even if the Major has been awarded,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Muneer Khan told reporters when asked whether police would continue the investigation in view of awarding of the accused.<br /><br />The remark comes a day after Major Gogoi was given a commendation card by the army chief General Bipin Rawat. The police had registered a FIR against unnamed army personnel on April 17 for tying Farooq Ahmad Dar of Chill Bras area in Khansahib segment of Budgam district with a jeep on April 13, the day re-poll was held in 38-polling booths of Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.<br /><br />According to preliminary police investigation, Dar was used as a human shield under threat and was kept under wrongful confinement by the Army. The army had ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) on April 20 against the Major who tied Dar in front of his jeep to “safeguard” paramilitary forces and polling staff from stone-pelters. The CoI had been given one month's time to complete the probe. The CoI is yet to submit its report.<br /><br />However, the Army chief has the authority to issue a Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card as he sees fit, irrespective of whether an inquiry report has been submitted. The army chief’s Commendation Card is considered a prestigious award and is given for distinguished services and devotion to duties.<br /><br />A video of the incident was uploaded by Opposition National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on his Twitter profile, generating massive outrage and condemnation from all quarters including some senior army officers.<br /></div>
<div align="justify">Despite being awarded a Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card for his sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir police Tuesday said that investigation would continue against Major Leetul Gogoi in “human shield” case.<br /><br />“The FIR has been lodged and the investigation is going on (in the human shield case.) Whatever will be the outcome of the investigation is a separate question, but FIR will not be quashed even if the Major has been awarded,” Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Muneer Khan told reporters when asked whether police would continue the investigation in view of awarding of the accused.<br /><br />The remark comes a day after Major Gogoi was given a commendation card by the army chief General Bipin Rawat. The police had registered a FIR against unnamed army personnel on April 17 for tying Farooq Ahmad Dar of Chill Bras area in Khansahib segment of Budgam district with a jeep on April 13, the day re-poll was held in 38-polling booths of Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.<br /><br />According to preliminary police investigation, Dar was used as a human shield under threat and was kept under wrongful confinement by the Army. The army had ordered a Court of Inquiry (CoI) on April 20 against the Major who tied Dar in front of his jeep to “safeguard” paramilitary forces and polling staff from stone-pelters. The CoI had been given one month's time to complete the probe. The CoI is yet to submit its report.<br /><br />However, the Army chief has the authority to issue a Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card as he sees fit, irrespective of whether an inquiry report has been submitted. The army chief’s Commendation Card is considered a prestigious award and is given for distinguished services and devotion to duties.<br /><br />A video of the incident was uploaded by Opposition National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on his Twitter profile, generating massive outrage and condemnation from all quarters including some senior army officers.<br /></div>
