Major Leetul Gogoi, who had used man in Srinagar as 'human shield', likely to be indicted by army court for affair with woman

New Delhi: Major Leetul Gogoi, who was detained by the police in a Srinagar hotel after he was seen with a local woman in May, may face punitive action as a Court of Inquiry (CoI) ordered by the army into the incident is likely to indict him in the case, official sources said in Delhi. [caption id=“attachment_4483747” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Major Leetul Gogoi. News18[/caption] They said the CoI has found that Gogoi violated the army’s rule against developing a relationship with a local woman in a conflict zone and breaching the standard operating procedure of staying away from place of duty. The sources said the findings of the CoI are being placed before the top brass of the Srinagar-based XV corps for approval, after which charges against Gogoi may be slapped under relevant sections of the Army Act. On May 23, Gogoi was detained by the police after an altercation at the hotel in Srinagar where he was allegedly trying to enter with an 18-year-old woman. Days later, the army had ordered the CoI into the incident after army chief General Bipin Rawat said in Pahalgam that exemplary punishment would be given to Gogoi if he was found guilty of “any offence”. “If any officer of the Indian Army is found guilty of any offence, we will take strictest possible action,” Rawat had said. The sources said the army authorities are likely to examine the legal aspects of the case before taking a final call on future course of action. Major Gogoi had hit the headlines last year after he tied a man to a jeep in Jammu and Kashmir purportedly as a shield against stone-pelters during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on 9 April. General Rawat had supported the young officer’s action and honoured him with the army chief’s “Commendation Card” for his “sustained efforts” in counter-insurgency operations.