Srinagar: An Indian Army Major, Nitin Leetul Gogoi, whose decision to tie a civilian to the bonnet of his vehicle in Kashmir last year sparked a row, was briefly detained by the police after an altercation broke out at a hotel, where he allegedly wanted to enter with an 18-year-old woman on Wednesday, according to a police official.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has initiated an inquiry into the entire incident.
Gogoi told the police he had come for a “source meeting”, the official claimed.
The incident happened in the morning when Major Gogoi along with his driver, also an army man, and the woman approached the front desk of a hotel at Dalgate to check-in, the official said.
The booking was made on-line in the name of Leetul Gogoi for two guests for one night, the police official, who did not want to be identified, told PTI.
According to the police, which recorded statements of the hotel staff as well as the three persons, the major was informed that he could not enter the room with the accompanying woman, which led to an altercation between the staff and Gogoi’s driver.
Immediately, other hotel staff members caught hold of the army officer and his driver and called the police.
Inspector-General of Police (Kashmir Range) Swayam Prakash Pani ordered a probe into the incident by the superintendent of police (north). Pani has directed that the report be submitted at the earliest, the official said.
Police have asked for the hotel’s CCTV footage as well as the room reservation form filled by the major, as part of its probe. Srinagar-based Corps Commander Lt Gen. A.K. Bhatt was apprised of the situation, the official said. However, the official said the police has not registered any case.
Asked for a comment, army sources in New Delhi said the future course would be decided once police investigations were over and circumstances become clear.
