CHANDIGARH: Nearly seven months after officers and soldiers of an army’s artillery regiment clashed in Ladakh, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has recommended punishment for at least 16 personnel, including five officers.
The incident took place at Nyoma near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in southeastern Ladakh.
Sources reveal that the CoI has recommended disciplinary action against 16 personnel, including the regiment’s commanding officer, second-in-command and three other officers for failure of command and control, assault, indiscipline and other lapses.
In addition, administrative action has been recommended against 40 other personnel for their role in the incident.
The CoI, presided by Brig Ajay Talwar, Deputy General Officer Commanding 3 Infantry Division, examined 220 witnesses, including officers, JCOs and other ranks, besides five civilians.
Initiation of disciplinary action could, depending upon the outcome of subsequent examination of the CoI report and other legal provisions and decision of the competent authority thereof, result in a court martial of those blamed in the report.
On May 10 last year, three officers and eight jawans, including the commanding officer of 226 Field Regiment, were injured in the fracas at Mahe firing range near Nyoma, around 20 km from the LAC.
According to earlier reports, the incident had occurred after a Major thrashed a soldier for allegedly misbehaving with his wife. The soldier was not allowed medical treatment which created resentment among other troops.
The commanding officer immediately reached the site and admonished the Major publicly, following which he was himself assaulted by the Major and other officers. This further angered the troops who beat up the officers.
The Army had termed the incident as “an isolated case of indiscipline”.
(TNS)
