Human shield row: Indian Army officers free to take decisions in war-like situation, says Defence Minister Arun Jaitley

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that Army officers are free to take decisions in a "war-like" zone. This statement by the minister came amid raging controversy over a Major tying a man to a jeep in Kashmir purportedly as a shield against stone pelters.

Without specifically mentioning Major Leetul Gogoi’s action, he said, “Well, military solutions are to be provided by military officers. How a situation is to be dealt with when you are in a war-like zone... we should allow our army officers to take a decision."

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"They don't have to consult members of Parliament as to what they should do under such circumstances." Jaitley further added.

Jaitley was responding to a question on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a day after the Army went public on fire assaults on Pakistani posts along the LoC.

The Indian Army on Tuesday launched punitive fire assaults on Pakistani positions across the Line of Control. This act by the Army was done days after two of its soldiers were beheaded by Pakistan.

It also released a video of the military action which showed some structures in a forested area crumbling in a heap under the impact of repeated shelling.

(With inputs from PTI)

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