Human shield: Army denies reports of clean chit to accused officer

Srinagar/May,15:  Army on Monday termed as “speculative” the media reports saying that the army major accused of using a civilian as human shield in Kashmir has been given a clean chit.
“The Court of Inquiry concerned with the incident wherein a civilian was tied to an Army jeep is still incomplete. Reports in some sections of the media of the Army Major being given a clean chit are speculative,” said Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia. Earlier, various media reports had suggested that the army officer was given a clean chit and “praised” for his “acumen”.
Earlier in the day a media report said an army major who tied a Kashmiri man to the bonnet of a jeep as a “human shield” has been given a clean chit by the Court of Inquiry (CoI.
“No action has been recommended against the Major. A source said, ‘Court martial is out of the question. Not even disciplinary action was recommended against the officer’,” India Today had reported. Army had convened a CoI on April 15, two days after an FIR was filed by J&K Police into the incident, involving a Major from 53 Rashtriya Rifles.
A video of the incident was uploaded by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on his Twitter profile, generating massive outrage and international condemnation.
“Highly placed sources has saod  that the inquiry has given a clean chit to the major in question – Nitin Gogoi. A source told MAIL TODAY that contrary to the hue and cry generated by the clipping on social media, senior army officers had appreciated the presence of mind of the officer to avoid casualties or injuries,” said the report. “He was congratulated for his acumen and presence of mind that saved many lives.”
Agencies