'Exemplary punishment' to major Gogoi if found guilty, says Army chief Bipin Rawat

Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday said that if found guilty of violating rules, “exemplary punishment” would be given to major Nitin Leetul Gogoi, who was recently detained by Srinagar police over an altercation with the staff of a hotel.

“If anyone in Indian Army, at any rank, does any wrong and it comes to our notice then strictest action will be taken. If major Gogoi has done something wrong then I can say that he will be given due punishment and it will be such that it will set an example,” ANI quoted General Rawat as saying.

Soon after Army chief’s statement, the Indian Army ordered a court of inquiry against major Gogoi, said Army officials. The future course of action against Gogoi will be taken after completion of the probe, the official added.

On May 23, major Gogoi was detained by Srinagar police along with his driver and a local woman after an altercation with the staff of a hotel.

The altercation took place when Gogoi was allegedly trying to enter the hotel with an 18-year-old girl but denied entry into a room by the staff as the girl was a local resident of Budgam. The hotel staff said that as per the hotel policy, they don’t provide room to local girls, especially if they come with boys.

Earlier, Gogoi made the headlines after he tied a civilian named Farooq Ahmed Dar to the bonnet of his vehicle in Kashmir, reportedly to save himself from the stone pelting crowd.