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NEW DELHI: The Army is likely to soon initiate administrative or disciplinary action against Major Leetul Gogoi , who was briefly detained by the J&K police after an altercation when he tried to enter a hotel in Srinagar with a young Kashmiri woman in May this year.

Though Major Gogoi was also at the center of the “human shield” controversy at Budgam district in April last year, he has virtually been given a clean chit in that incident. But Army sources say the court of inquiry (CoI) into the second incident has prima facie indicted him for “fraternizing with a woman source against existing orders” and “leaving his unit post in an operational area without permission” from his superiors in May this year.

“The report of the CoI, headed by a Brigadier, has been submitted to the 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar for legal vetting and finalization. Once the findings of the CoI are approved, either administrative action or disciplinary action (recording of the summary of evidence and court martial) will be initiated against Major Gogoi depending on the evidence,” said a source.

Major Gogoi, posted with the 53 Rashtriya Rifles (Punjab Regiment) at Beerwa in Budgam district, had first faced flak after he controversially decided to truss up a civilian on his jeep’s bonnet as “a human shield” to rescue over a dozen security and election personnel from a stone-pelting mob in Budgam district on April 9 last year.

Brushing aside criticism that Major Gogoi had violated human rights , General Bipin Rawat had awarded Major Gogoi with the chief of army staff commendation card for his “sustained efforts in counterinsurgency operations as well as his presence of mind and initiative to prevent bloodshed in a volatile situation”.

But on May 23 this year, Major Gogoi had once again triggered a controversy after the police detained him, along with the Kashmiri woman and a third person, following an altercation over them getting a room in the Grand Mamta Hotel in Srinagar.

Gen Rawat had then stated that exemplary punishment would be given to Major Gogoi if he was found guilty of any offence. “If any officer of the Indian Army is found guilty of any offence, we take strictest possible action…If Major Gogoi has done something wrong, I assure you he will be awarded punishment at the earliest... The punishment will set an example,” said Gen Rawat.

