Tied man to jeep to save local people from stone-pelters, says Major Leetul Gogoi

Major Leetul Gogoi who had tied a man to a jeep in Kashmir on Tuesday said that he took that action to save local people from stone-pelters.

"We went to a polling booth to check the security situation, and then some people started pelting stones at us. Then stone pelters started throwing petrol bombs at us, I took that step just to save local people," said Major Leetul Gogoi.

"1200 people had surrounded the area and were trying to burn down the polling station. I was doing regular announcements that we came here to save polling staff so let us proceed. Then, I saw that a man was instigating the crowd and was raising anti-India slogans. My subordinates said we should start firing otherwise we won't come out alive from the situation, but still I told them not to" said Major Gogoi.

Earlier on Monday, Major Leetul Gogoi was awarded by the Army for his ‘sustained efforts’ in counter-insurgency operations.

The Army Chief’s ‘Commendation Card’ for Major Gogoi is seen as an indication that he is unlikely to be implicated for the incident by a Court of Inquiry which the Army maintains is still going on.

“Major Gogoi has been awarded Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card for sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations,” Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand said.