J&K court seeks report in Major Gogoi’s hotel case
: Jammu and Kashmir court on Saturday sought the status report of the investigation of hotel fracas involving Major Gogoi, who was detained along with a woman and then set free by the police. Chief judicial magistrate Srinagar (CJM) passed an interim order directing station house officer, Khanyar police station to file the status report of the case by May 30. The court passed direction on a petition that was filed by human rights activist, Ahsan Untoo seeking status report of the case.
On Friday, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday promised “exemplary punishment” for Major Leetul Gogoi if he was found guilty of violating rules as the force ordered a court of inquiry against the officer, who was detained along with a woman and a local man on Wednesday.
General Rawat said if anybody is found to have done any wrong, strict action will be taken against him, regardless of who he is or what rank he holds. “If Major Gogoi has done anything wrong, I assure you that soon he will be punished and I will give such punishment that it will set an example,’’ he told reporters in the South Kashmir.
Last April, during by-elections for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Major Gogoi had tied a civilian, Farooq Ahmad Dar, to the bonnet of his jeep as a human shield to deter stone-pelters from targeting his troops. The incident led to a human rights controversy. General Rawat awarded Gogoi a commendation card for his “sustained efforts” on counter-insurgency operations.
Gogoi was detained by the police along with a woman and another army man from a city hotel after they had an altercation with hotel staff. Gogoi was later handed over to his unit in Budgam. The woman was handed over to her parents after her statement was recorded in front of a magistrate. In her statement, she reportedly said she had gone with officer of her own volition.