While the police on Thursday rebuffed the army’s claim that an intelligence input about the presence of militants in a hotel in Leh led to its men frisking the tourists, sources on Friday told Kashmir Dispatch that the ‘cause and the motive behind the army action was quite uncanny’.
At the heart of the incident lied a physical brawl between an army colonel and police inspector which led to the incident, sources said.
A senior most official privy to both the army and police said more than a week ago a colonel along with his son went to Leh airport where they had an altercation with local police inspector over the issue of frisking.
“The colonel wanted that both of them should be released without frisking. The inspector refused and later both of them entered into a verbal brawl. Then there was exchange of blows as well,” the official said.
“During the incident, the colonel and his son got injured. They rushed to local police station and pressed them to register an FIR,” he added.
“The police refused to concede to the demand of colonel and his son. But they (police) promised to initiate a departmental action against the inspector,” he remarked.
Later, during a series of meetings between the police and army officials the issue was resolved, he added.
According to the source, the colonel came to know that the inspector frequented a hotel in the area.
“They thought that it was a good opportunity to settle the score with the inspector,” he said.
“On the intervening night of May 30 and May 31, they barged into several hotels looking for the inspector. In the meantime they barged into Hotel Masarovar, Holiday Inn and Keddar Guest House. The tourists were intimidated and harassed,” he said.
However, a senior official in the Army’s Northern Command told Kashmir Dispatch that there was a miscommunication between the army and the police that led to the incident.
“While there were intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, the army should have taken police into confidence,” he added.
Police had registered a case against unidentified army troopers for allegedly entering three hotels during night in Leh and harassing tourists, including foreigners, earlier this week.
The incident took place during the intervening night of May 30 and 31 when army personnel from 3 Division based at Kharu in Leh area of Ladakh region barged into many hotels, official sources had told Press Trust of India.
“Troopers carrying weapons and wearing uniforms without name badges, questioned the tourists without taking local police into confidence as required under law,” sources had said.
One of the tourists had taken pictures of the army troopers and complained to local police about harassment, the sources said.
A defence spokesperson, while denying harassment to the tourists by the army in Leh, had told Press Trust of India that army had stepped up vigil in Leh region following intelligence inputs that militants were planning to disrupt the tourism in the area.
Reacting to the statement by the defence spokesperson, the police on Thursday rebuffed the army saying there were no militants present in Leh.
“Taking cognizance of a statement of defence spokesman and as quoted by PTI the Police want to inform that there is no presence of militants in Leh,” a spokesperson of the police had said.
“The Police is looking into the motives of the army personnel who searched some hotels in Leh during the intervening night of 30/31.05.2011, since the Armed Force Special Power Act is not in force in Leh,” the police spokesperson had said.
Meanwhile, police officials refused to comment.
-via Kashmir Dispatch
I agree with kartik. I have seen on airports when a man in civil dress flashes his I Card and is let off by the friskers. these guys are are generally police officers travelling. Unfortunate part is that Indian Army Officers have no standing in civil streets. I was privy to an incident where on a toll barrier on Jaipur Sikar road an army officer going on Official tour was asked to pay the toll. When he disclosed his identity and refused, his vehicle was not permitted to go ahead. No reasoning with toll chaps cud go. these were bunch of musclemen hired by the toll contracter. And Then a constable alights from a bus in the rear, tells the toll guy to let the officer go and the toll chaps oblige. Just imagine how an Army Man feels when Humbles by constable. ITS AT THIS POINT THAT DISCIPLINED MEN IN UNIFORM RESORT TO TAKING LAW INTO THEIR HANDS. i am with them. either give them respect or they will take revenge the humiliation.
I agree totally except last line. We must respect law of the land. Better concentrate on our duties rather demanding respect from others. Always remember that ‘Respect is commanded and not demanded’.
But unfortunately it is not so in our country. Not only respect but everything is commandeered by those who can create problems for the ordinary folks! Though they are legally and factually public servants, it is not so in practice. The way citizens who have no money or access to those with money or authority are treated like slaves and criminals! Go to a court- the ultimate refuge of a justice seeker- and just see how you are called for hearing day after day and told to come on another day without doing anything other than marking your attendance!
Well. So much for the BRAVE Police Inspector fighting an army man with his family.
Me and my equally drunk Egyptian Pal thrashed the shit out of the CISF guy at Trivandrum airport. Army people too decent for this damn police wallhs.
This is the problem in this country Army is treated like a pet dog and army officers has no respect what so ever. If you have face such situation then only you can understand how police wala behaves with army officers even after knowing that he is dealing with an army officer. All our Generals are responsible
for this. they never take the matter of precedence seriously.
do you think the police wala will do the same to his officer. never.
But then what else treatment you can get as a PET DOG of this country+
The best solution is that when Armed Forces personnel go out, they must leave behind their rank and status and consider themselves as common man. Please do no expect any thing special from the society. To command respect, firsrtly, you need to proove yourself in your field.