Court-martial for Major in row involving Kashmiri girl

Gogoi was found guilty of “fraternising a local” and “being away from the place of duty”

Major Leetul Gogoi, who hit international headlines for using a human shield in Jammu and Kashmir, likely to be court-martialled by the Indian Army.

Gogoi was found guilty of “fraternising local” (a Kashmiri girl) and “being away from the place of duty”, Army sources said here.

“Orders have been issued to initiate disciplinary action,” Army officials said.

A Court of Inquiry was initiated against Maj Gogoi in May after he had been caught in the middle of an unsavoury controversy involving a Kashmiri girl and a local driver following an altercation in a Srinagar hotel. The hotel staff informed the police, which in turn handed over Gogoi to Army authorities after interrogating him.

“The Court of Inquiry held him accountable for – fraternising local in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in the operational area,” said a source.

“If Maj Gogoi has done something wrong then I can say that he will be given due punishment and the punishment will be such that it will set an example. If anyone in Indian Army, at any rank, does any wrong and it comes to our notice then strictest action will be taken,” Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat had stated.

The young officer hit the headlines worldwide last year when he used a local Kashmiri as a human shield to rescue an election party caught in the middle of a stone-pelting mob.

Though he received brickbats from many for such an act, the Maj received a Commendation Card from the Army Chief for sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations.