Major Gogoi defended his decision to put Dar as a human shield, as he felt it saved many lives on the day
After the Jammu and Kashmir Police refused to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him for tying a man to the bonnet of his jeep to serve as a 'human shield', Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi on Tuesday defended his act by saying that he took the step "to save the local people."
“We went to a polling booth to check the security situation, and then some people started pelting stones at us. Then, the stone-pelters started throwing petrol bombs at us. I took that step just to save local people,” Major Gogoi said in a press briefing here.
Earlier, the political parties were left irked when Major Gogoi was awarded by Chief of Army Staff's (COAS) Commendation Card for his sustained distinguished service till now in counter-insurgency operations in the state, citing that his measures against stone-pelters would only aggravate the situation in the Valley.
The officer was awarded by Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Gogoi was in the spotlight after a video shot during the April 9 Srinagar Lok Sabha by-polls, posted on the social media, showed a man tied on the bonnet of an Army jeep in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam.
The video went viral and sparked a major controversy, with one faction condemning the Army's action while the other commended their ingenuity.
The Court of Inquiry regarding April 9 incident is under finalisation.
Meanwhile, Farooq Ahmed Dar, the man who was tied to the bonnet of the jeep, asked whether dragging a person for nearly 28 kilometres an act of bravery.
Dar said he was yet to be called by the police or the Army -- which has instituted a court of inquiry into the incident of April 9 -- for his side of the story.
"They were never serious. I am a small person and why should anyone care," Dar said.
Dar was picked up by the Major after he had gone to vote in the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency election, defying calls from militant groups to boycott the bypoll.
He was on his way back after casting his vote when he came across Major Leetul Gogoi, who is said to have tied him to the jeep s bonnet as a shield against the stone pelters who had allegedly surrounded a group of armed personnel.
A video of Dar tied to the bonnet of the jeep went viral, triggering a public outcry. Some former general also said the move went against the "ethos" of the Indian Army.
The outrage prompted the Army to institute a probe into the incident.
The Jammu and Kashmir police also registered a case.
"It has been over a month since then and I am yet to hear from the local police. Even my statement has not been registered," Dar told PTI from his home in Chill in Budgam district.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "gogoi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}