Army Will Not Take Action Against Major Gogoi, Will Treat Stone-Pelters As Anti-Nationals: Army Chief 

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, in an interview with the Economic Times, has said that there was no reason to take action against Major Leetul Gogoi, who tied a stone pelter to an Army jeep to discourage a group of mobsters from harming a convoy of election officer, adding that the Major was given a commendation to retain the confidence level of troops working in the Kashmir Valley.

On being asked about the inquiry initiated against Major Gogoi, the Army Chief said no action will be taken against him even if the court finds him guilty of minor lapses. “The present court of inquiry will come to its conclusion but what I have learnt is that he has not committed an offence that will necessitate action,” he said.

Talking about the Pakistan’s cross-border offensives, he said that there is no permanent solution other than alertness, use of technology and rehearse drills to counter such action. He said the aim of the video of fire assault that the Army released on Tuesday was “to put the fear for life on the other side”.

However, when asked about Army’s broader strategy in the Valley, he refused to disclose the details, saying that the forces will take “strong measures along the LoC” to deter Pakistan. He assured that those causing turmoil in the Valley, including those pelting stones on the forces, will be treated as anti-nationals.

Talking about the Strategic Partnership model, broad contours of which were finalised by the government on Saturday, he said that the policy will be fine-tuned in the coming time and its success will depend on how forthcoming foreign firms are. He said that the government is looking at self-Reliance through indigenisation.

On the issue of Army’s modernisation, Rawat said the process is a cyclic one and plans to phase out obsolete equipment by induction of new weapons are on track.