Cops to continue probe

SRINAGAR:

The police probe into an army major using a Kashmiri man as a human shield will continue, a senior official said on Tuesday, even as rights body Amnesty accused the Indian armed forces of glorifying the “degrading treatment” by awarding the officer.

The army chief awarded Major Leetul Gogoi for “sustained efforts” in counter-insurgency operations on Monday.

On Tuesday, Gogoi defended his act in his first public comments since the incident which sparked outrage in Kashmir.

Muneer Khan, Kashmir range inspector general of police, said the first information report (FIR) in the case has not been quashed and the army honouring the major will not impact the probe.

“The investigations will continue...We will share the results of that investigation at the end,” Khan said in Sopore. Though the army said the officer was not rewarded for the incident, many in Kashmir believe that the honour was akin to condoning the action. A defiant Major Gogoi said he was forced to act as stones rained down from all sides, accusing Dar of being the “ringleader” who stirred up protesters. HTC