Why Major Leetul Gogoi, of human-shield notoriety, was detained from Srinagar hotel
The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday, May 23, detained Major Leetul Gogoi, who was in the news in 2017 for tying a man to an Indian Army jeep as a "human shield", along with a local woman from a hotel in Srinagar. According to some reports, the woman accompanying Gogoi was a minor. However, some other reports refuted the claim.
The incident reportedly came to the fore around 11am after an argument allegedly broke between Gogoi and the hotel employees, who refused to allow him to check in along with the woman. As tension built up, Gogoi was, some reports stated, handed over to the police, who handed him over to his unit after questioning. A hotel employee, however, has claimed that they called the police after a fight broke out between Gogoi and his driver and the girl in question who was allegedly a minor.
Just in : Major Leetul Gogoi, the army man, who tied a civilian to his jeep as a human shield, was caught by the locals at Mamta hotel #Dalgate along with the teenage girl. Hotel employee claim he came with local minor girl, hence canceled his hotel booking. pic.twitter.com/g1akBuIMxS
— Irony Of India (@IronyOfIndia_) May 23, 2018
Interestingly, some locals claimed that Gogoi and the girl were caught in a compromising position, while the hotel staff has claimed that they were denied a room.
A statement by the police said: "Today at 1100 hrs, police station Khanyar received a call from Hotel Grand Mamta that an altercation has taken place at the hotel. Accordingly a police party was deputed to the hotel, and it surfaced that a one woman (name withheld) and person namely Sameer Ahmed of Budgam had come to see some person. But the hotel reception did not allow them to meet the person. Meanwhile, police party reached the spot and got all the persons to the police station. Subsequently it was learn the that the woman had come to meet an army officer. The identity and particulars of the army officer has been collected by the police as well. The officials were handed over to their unit after due recording their statements. The statement of woman is also being recorded for probing the matter. (sic)"
After human shield row Major Gogoi lands in fresh storm@ShujaUH brings you more on this.#IndiaFirstLive: https://t.co/4fqxBVUizL pic.twitter.com/gxFkM6hWIO
— India Today (@IndiaToday) May 23, 2018
Police said that another man identified as Sameer was accompanying Gogoi and the girl. The trio was taken to the police station and questioned. After which Gogoi was handed over to his unit.
Even as the police have announced a full-fledged investigation into the matter, the incident has led to various claims and counter-claims flooding social media.
A tweet claimed that the car in which Gogoi and the woman travelled to was registered in the name of one Sameer Mala, who was recently inducted into the Indian Army.
Criminal Major Gogoi booked hotel for two guys. vehicle in which they travelled from Budgam is registered in the name of Sameer Mala of Lokipora Budgam. This guy has been recently recruited in the army (maybe as a pimp). Full fledged racket run by army and police.@dr_rita39 pic.twitter.com/4gTJVh2Lvx
— Ahmad Khalid (@sheikhkhalid313) May 23, 2018
Another person alleged that the police was trying to hush up the case and tweeted a purported proof of the booking made at the hotel in the name of Gogoi for two people.
Police hushing up the case but the reality is that Major Gogoi had booked the hotel himself pic.twitter.com/jAhgA72Jpn
— Ahmad Khalid (@sheikhkhalid313) May 23, 2018
Recently, Gogoi was honoured with the Army chief's "Commendation Card" for his "sustained efforts" in counter-insurgency operations.
The "Commendation Card" is considered a prestigious award and is given for distinguished services and devotion to duty.
Gogoi has been a controversial figure in the Valley since Kashmiri shawl-maker, Farooq Ahmad Dar, was tied by Gogoi to an Army jeep and paraded during the violence-hit April 9, 2017, Lok Sabha by-polls in Srinagar.
The incident had forced the Army to initiate an investigation against Gogoi.
In his defence, Gogoi had claimed that Dar was a stone-pelter and that he resorted to the measure when his convoy came under attack. The J&K police investigation, however, showed that Dar was caught while he was returning after casting his vote.
It is thus not surprising that the latest controversy involving Gogoi has resulted in his supporters and detractors fight it out hard on social media.