'Justice Served,' Says Man Used as Human Shield After Army Finds Major Leetul Gogoi Guilty
New Delhi: Major Leetul Gogoi, who was detained by the police in a Srinagar hotel after he was seen with a local woman in May, has been found guilty of fraternising with a local and being away from his place of duty while in an operational area by a Court of Inquiry, army sources said today.
Orders have been issued to initiate disciplinary action against him, they said.
The court has held him accountable for "fraternising" with a local in spite of instructions to the contrary and "being away from the place of duty while in operational area", the sources said.
On May 23, police detained Gogoi following an altercation when he was allegedly trying to enter a Srinagar hotel with an 18-year-old woman.
Days later, the army ordered the CoI into the incident. Army chief General Bipin Rawat had said in Pahalgam that exemplary punishment would be given to Gogoi if he was found guilty of "any offence".
Gogoi is infamous for his actions on April 9, 2017, during the by-election for the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency. It was his decision to tie a civilian and voter, Farooq Ahmad Dar, to the front of an army jeep and use him as a human shield in areas where there was stone-pelting. General Rawat had then defended Gogoi and the army had given the major a commendation medal.
'Justice has been served'
"Justice has been finally done," said Dar today on hearing the officer was indicted. "I am thankful to the Almighty. The person who ruined my life has to face the wrath of God finally. God has his ways to do justice," Dar told PTI over phone from his home.
The 28-year-old embroidery artisan, who is struggling to pick up the threads of his life after the traumatic incident, said the army should have treated his case also on compassionate grounds and listened to his version of the incident that sparked an outrage.
"I am not even sure whether I will be able to restart my life again but I am happy that God has given me justice at the end of the day. The person who is responsible for my destruction has also been eventually shamed," said Dar, who has been shunned by neighbours after a video of him being tied as a human shield by Gogoi became public.
Suffering from depression as he was boycotted by villagers for allegedly being a government agent, Dar recalled his repeated pleas to Gogoi to release him but said he refused to pay heed.
"The army major was arrogant with power and considered himself as my creator. However, little did he know that uski lathi mein awaaz nahi hai (lightning makes no sound until it strikes)," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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