Army honours major in human-shield row
An army major, who was in the eye of a storm for allegedly tying a Kashmiri man to a jeep to use him as a human shield, has been awarded the army chief’s commendation card.
Confirming the development, army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand said the officer had been awarded the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation (COAS) card for “sustained efforts in CI (counter insurgency) operations”. Sustained efforts imply that the officer has been recognised for work done by him over a period of time.
Asked if the recognition was related to the jeep incident, Col Anand told HT, “I reiterate he has been awarded for his sustained efforts.”
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”, army sources said.
The army found itself in the middle of a firestorm after the surfacing of a video clip that purportedly showed the man tied to the fender of a Rakshak jeep and paraded through villages. A day after the video clip surfaced on April 14, the army ordered a probe into the incident.
In the video, announcements of people being warned that “this will be the fate of stone-pelters” could be heard in the background. The incident had triggered outrage in Kashmir, with separatists saying it was on “expected lines from an oppressor”.
CONTINUED ON P 8 WAS I AN ANIMAL, ASKS MAN WHO WAS TIED TO JEEP ››P15
The Election Commission on Monday deferred elections to 10 Rajya Sabha seats scheduled for June 8, citing the presidential poll in July and the EVM hacking challenge which begins on June 3.
The poll panel in a statement said fresh dates for elections will be announced later.
An EC official said the polls have been deferred since they would coincide with the Presidential elections.
“The secretaries of legislative assemblies are notified as returning officers for the biennial elections to council of States and they are also to be appointed as assistant returning officers for Presidential elections,” an official said.
The Rajya Sabha elections have also been deferred on account of the open challenge that is being conducted by the poll panel on June 3, where recognised national and regional political parties are being invited to prove allegations that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be rigged.
Elections for 10 Rajya Sabha seats from Goa, Gujarat and West Bengal were to be held ahead of the Presidential election, which is likely to take place before July 24.
The term of several members, including Union Minister Smriti Irani, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien are set to end in July and August.
CONTINUED ON P 8