Court martial of Major Gogoi complete, likely to face reduction in senority

Srinagar: The court martial proceedings against Army Major Leetul Gogoi have been completed and he is likely to face reduction in seniority for fraternising with a local woman, Army sources said on Sunday.

Major Gogoi was in the centre of a controversy in 2017 when he created a human shield by tying a Kashmiri youth to the bonnet of his jeep to avoid attacks by stone pelting mobs during the discharge of duties in the Badgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Major Gogoi’s driver, Sameer Malla, who facilitated the major’s relationship with a local woman, also faced the court martial proceedings along with the officer.

“He is likely to be given a serious reprimand,” sources said.

After completion of summary of evidence against Major Gogoi and his driver in February, followed by the initiation of court martial proceedings, the two men have been held guilty on two counts, “fraternising with a local woman in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in operational area”.

Major Gogoi was posted with Rashtriya Rifles battalion to fight insurgency in J&K.

Police had detained the Major along with his driver and a local woman in 2018 when they came to a local hotel where the manager refused to give them a room to stay for the night.

By IANS