NEW DELHI: Major Leetul Gogoi, who used a youth as a human shield against stone pelters in Kashmir last year, is likely to face a court-martial as Army's Court of Inquiry (CoI) has indicted him and ordered disciplinary action against him in a Srinagar hotel case, where he was caught with a young local girl by police in May this year.
Sources said the Army's CoI that was ordered after Major Gogoi was caught with a local girl and another soldier in a Hotel Grand Mamta at Dalgate, Srinagar on May 23 has held the officer accountable for -"fraternising-" with a local woman in violation of instructions and guidelines and being away from the place of his duty while in operational area.
Gogoi, who was posted with army's 53 RR at Beerwah in central Kashmir Budgam district, had not informed his superiors before leaving the camp on May 23.
Sources said the CoI headed by a Brigadier-level officer, which submitted its findings to the Convening Authority earlier this month, has ordered disciplinary action against Major Gogoi for breaching discipline and leaving the camp without intimidating his seniors.
Major Gogoi, who had in April 2017 used a youth as a human shield and tied him in front of bonnet of an army vehicle in central Kashmir's Budgam during bypolls to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, had booked a room in the Srinagar hotel online for a night for two guests in the name of businessman on May 23.
However, the hotel staff denied accommodation to him after they found a local girl accompanying him. After being denied accommodation, he and another army man had an altercation with the hotel staff and locals.
After the altercation, the cops detained Major Gogoi, the girl, and another army man and lodged them in Police Station Khanyar. They were later set free after questioning.
An army official told New Indian Express that ordering of disciplinary action against Major Gogoi is the first step towards his court-martial.
"Now he will have to face Summary of Evidence during which he will be given opportunity to prove himself not guilty. "Summary of Evidence will be conducted by a board" he said.
The official said after Summary of Evidence is completed and depending on evidence against him, the court-martial proceedings can be initiated against the officer.
He said if court-martialled, punishment to Major Gogoi could range from dismissal from service to severe reprimand.
According to the official, now that disciplinary action has been initiated against him, Major Gogoi could be shifted from his present place of posting in Valley.
Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, who had backed him for using youth as a human shield against stone pelters last year and honoured him with Army Chief's 'Commendation card', showed no mercy against him after he was caught with a girl by a police.Gen Rawat had warned that exemplary punishment would be given to Gogoi if he was found guilty of any offence