'Human shield' officer Major Gogoi held after scuffle with hotel staff in J&K

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir police have launched a probe after an Army officer was caught in a scuffle with the staff of Srinagar hotel when it did not allow him to check in with a local woman accompanying him.

The officer is Major Leetul Gogoi of the Army’s 53 Rashtriya Rifles who had on April 9, 2016 ordered his men to tie Farooq Ahmed Dar, a Kashmiri shawl-weaver from Chhil Brass village of central Budgam district, to the bonnet of an Army jeep during by-poll in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The incident of allegedly using a civilian as a ‘human shield’ had evoked rage within the State and beyond with human rights groups including Amnesty International demanding action against those responsible. However, the Army had after a probe not only exonerated Major Gogoi but he was awarded ‘Commendation Card’ for his “sustained distinguished service” in counterinsurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

The police said that the Army officer was handed over to it after he was held by people with a woman and a youth from Budgam accompanying her at Hotel Grand Mamta in Srinagar’s tourist frequented Dal Gate area. The preliminary investigations by the police have revealed that Major Gogoi had booked a room in the hotel and when he along with a local woman and a youth from Budgam district where the Army officer is also posted reached the hotel to check in they had an altercation with the hotel staff at the reception.

“The argument turned into a scuffle and when the people living in the neighbourhood and those passing through the area heard the noise they also joined,” a police officer said. The police was informed and when a party sent from the concerned Khanyar police station reached the spot it took the Army officer and the boy-girl duo into custody. Later the police came to know that the officer was Major Gogoi, the officer said.

Confirming the incident, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) SP Pani said that a probe has been launched into the incident. “We are investigating the matter. We need to go by the merit of the case. We have informed Army unit where he (Major Gogoi) is posted.”

The hotel management said that a room was booked online in the name of Leetul Gogoi R/o Assam for Wednesday. At around 11 am, the person with a driver and a girl came to check in the hotel. But when the hotel staff on feeling suspicious asked for their identity cards, the trio engaged in a verbal and physical argument with it. “We called the police which took the Army officer, the driver and the girl to Police Station Khanyar,” it said.

A statement issued by the police here said, “This is in reference to the press release issued by District Police Srinagar which reported about the incident at the Hotel Grand Mamta today. In this matter IGP Kashmir Zone has ordered a probe to be conducted by the SP North zone Srinagar in this incident within the ambit of law.”

The officials at police station Khanyar said that they received a phone call at around 11 am that an altercation has taken place at the hotel. A police party was sent to the spot where it found that a woman (name withheld) and a youth from Budgam namely Sameer Ahmed had come to see Major Gogoi who had reportedly booked a room in the said hotel earlier.

The police have recorded the statement of all the three persons and also the hotel staff and some witnesses, the officials said. Subsequently, Major Gogoi was handed over to his unit.