SRINAGAR – A Court of Inquiry (CoI) gave a clean chit to an army major who tied a Kashmiri man to the bonnet of a jeep as a “human shield”, Indian media reported on Monday.
“No action has been recommended against the Major. A source said, ‘Court martial is out of the question. Not even disciplinary action was recommended against the officer’,” India Today reported.
Quoting sources, India Today said that the five-vehicle convoy led by the Major had soldiers, 12 poll officials, nine ITBP men and two policemen. The major had reportedly come up with the idea to escape stone-pelting mobs during the by-election to Srinagar.
“The inquiry has given a clean chit to the major in question – Nitin Gogoi,” report said adding that contrary to the hue and cry generated by the clipping on social media, senior army officers had appreciated the presence of mind of the officer to avoid casualties or injuries.
“He was congratulated for his acumen and presence of mind that saved many lives,” report said.
The Indian forces have unleashed brutal crackdown on the recent antiregime protests across the disputed valley. Forces have opened fire at unarmed civilians and illegally detained protestors.
