Army dismisses claims over purported sting operation

New Delhi: A havaldar has been recommended for dismissal from service in the 2011 Jorhat dacoity case while his commanding officer along with a woman officer have been served with punishment of `severe displeasure` and `reprimand` respectively.

This was stated by Army Headquarters today as it dismissed claims that the two officers are under scanner following a purported sting operation suggesting that they were also involved in extra-judicial killings in Nagaland. On the alleged fake encounter by the same unit along with a Major of the 21 Para (Special Forces) unit, the Army Headquarters said the complaint letter written by a unit officer Major Ravi Kiran was inquired into by a Brigadier of the 3 Corps but "no merit was found". The dacoity incident took place in Jorhat, Assam on December 20, 2011 when Army Intelligence Unit personnel entered the house of a civilian defence contractor and allegedly stole money and mobile phones from there. "Along with the action against the Havaldar, the lady Captain was given reprimand and the Colonel was awarded `Severe displeasure," Army Headquarters said. The officials said the force has informed the Guwahati High Court about the developments in the court martial proceedings against the personnel of the 3 Corps Intelligence Unit. On the alleged fake encounter allegations, the officials said the Army was never been approached by the Nagaland police in connection with the death of the three Naga youths, whose decomposed bodies were found in Dimapur in Nagaland on March 20. The Army Headquarters also questioned the veracity of the alleged sting operation in which it is claimed that the 3 Corps Intelligence unit officers had held the wife of a commander of a terrorist group and sought a "levy" of Rs one crore in Dimapur in Nagaland. These cases had taken interesting dimensions in 2012 when the then Army Chief Gen VK Singh had put present Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag under promotion ban for alleged mishandling of the cases but it was revoked by his successor Gen Bikram Singh.