Army officers are free to take decisions in a 'war-like' zone : Jaitley

 Defence minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday came out in support of Major Leetul Gogoi, who used a Kashmiri man as a human shield in front of an army vehicle in order to rescue a polling party in Jammu and Kashmir.

 “Military solutions are to be provided by military officers. How a situation is to be dealt with when you are in a war-like zone. We should allow our army officers to take a decision. They don't have to consult members of the Parliament as to what they should do under such circumstances,” Jaitley said here.

 The defence minister's comments are not only an indication of the NDA government's support for Maj Gogoi, but also a veiled criticism of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who voiced his dissent and wrote an article strongly criticising the incident.

 In fact, it was Abdullah, who first tweeted a video footage of the incident triggering an intense debate on whether the controversial act was justified or not under the circumstances. The Army said the decision was taken to same lives as firing on an angry stone-pelting mob could lead to disastrous consequences.

 But the National Conference leader raised several questions on how the rights of the individual - a local named Farooq Dar – were violated and how the Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's decision to reward Maj Gogoi would render the ongoing Court of Inquiry useless.

 The Army instituted a Court of Inquiry on the incident following the hue and cry that the incident triggered. Sources said the inquiry found him not guilty and it was Gen Rawat, who decided to reward the young Major, who rose through the ranks, with a commendation card.

 “While awarding the officer, all factors including notable performance of the officer and overall emerging indicators of the Court of Inquiry have been well considered. The Court of Inquiry is under finalisation,” said an officer.