SRINAGAR: An army officer behind last year’s human shield case was handed over to the police after he was held by people with a girl at a hotel in Srinagar on Wednesday.
Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied a civilian Farooq Ahmad Dar of Chill-Brass village in Budgam district on the day of Srinagar Parliamentary elections in April last year was caught today by people with a girl from a hotel.
A senior police officer said that the major had booked a room at “The Grand Mamta” hotel the in tourist hub of Dalgate area in Srinagar.
He said today when the Major Gogoi along with a local Kashmiri boy and a girl from Budgam district-where Major is also posted reached the hotel they had an altercation with the hotel staff at the reception.
The argument he said turned into a scuffle in which locals also joined.
“We have to go by merit of the case and probe has been ordered,” said Inspector General of Police, SP Pani, adding that Gogoi’s unit has been informed about the matter.
IGP Pani claimed that the girl was not a minor. “The documents collected from her don’t show this at all,” added IGP Pani. However, reports suggested that the girl was sixteen-year-old.
An army officer wishing anonymity said that court of inquiry is likely to be ordered as the major was on duty when the incident took place.