MAN POSING AS ARMY OFFICER HELD IN ALMORA

NAINITAL: A man wearing army fatigues and allegedly posing as an Army officer was caught by army personnel on Sunday while he was trying to enter the Chaubattia area in Almora district where joint Indo-us military training exercise started on Sunday morning, said police.

Virender Pant, senior sub-inspector at Ranikhet Kotwali police station, said Rahul, 22, was driving an Innova vehicle with Army CO (commanding officer) written on it. He tried to enter the Chaubattia area in Almora district where joint Indo-us military training exercise had started on Sunday morning.

“Army personnel stopped him and sought documents regarding his army background. He was driving the vehicle wearing army fatigues and there were four passengers, who claimed they were sales tax officials and had hired the vehicle for sightseeing to the Chaubattia garden,” he said.

Pant said Rahul, who hails from Meerut, couldn’t produce any documents regarding his Army background. “The army personnel seized the vehicle and handed him over to police. We booked him. The other passengers are being questioned, but no FIR has been lodged against them,” he said.

Pant said they are questioning Rahul on why he was posing as an Army officer and what his intentions were.

The two-week long j oint Indo-us military exercise will conclude on September 29.