Army Gives Clean Chit To Officer Who Tied An Alleged Stone-Pelter To Jeep, Says His Move Saved Lives

A court of inquiry (CoI) convened by the Army has given a clean chit to Major Nitin Gogoi, the officer who tied an alleged stone-pelter to an army jeep in order to discourage a group of mobsters from harming a convoy of election officers, India Today has reported. The CoI has not recommended any action against Gogoi.

Earlier, the Centre had decided to back the officer, noting that he took the decision as the last resort to protect polling officers and jawans accompanying the convoy.

Gogoi, who was leading the convoy, had volunteered to serve in Kashmir. He took the call in order to prevent direct confrontation between the mob and the army, a scenario that would have ended in bloodshed.

According to NDTV’s report, a Quick Reaction Team of the army was called in prevent escalation of hostilities, but the numerical superiority of the stone-pelting mob made it almost impossible for the convoy to move. “They would have been lynched by 400 people,” the report quoted a source as saying.

According to sources quoted by India Today, the army believes that Gogoi’s timely decision saved many lives and prevented confrontation.

“No action has been recommended against the Major,” the report said, quoting a source, who added that “court martial is out of the question. Not even disciplinary action was recommended”. According to the report, senior officers have reportedly termed it a ‘one-off incident that was blown out of proportion’.