The violence at a Ladakh firing range, constituting one of the most
serious discipline-related incidents in the Army in recent years, was
the result of a series of rule breaches by officers. Sources indicated a
trust deficit between officers and jawans, including failure of the
command structure, and a rumour about a badly beaten jawan dying that
could not be contained.
The Army has called Thursday’s events a “minor scuffle” resulting in “superficial injuries” to four, who are in hospital. However, sources said the violence lasted several hours and that apart from the commanding officer of 226 Field Regiment, three majors and 10 jawans received injuries. A court of inquiry has been instituted.
In a statement issued today, the Army said the regiment was being moved back to its location, Darbuk, from the firing range. Commanding Officer Col. P Kadam is likely to be moved out for medical care. Kadam was reportedly already scheduled to relinquish command, and the Army said no one has been “removed, dismissed or suspended”.
Slamming “misinterpretation” and “mischievous reporting”, the Army also said, “The entire episode can at worst be seen as an isolated act of indiscipline. It can in no way be termed a mutiny.”
A reconstruction of what transpired at the Army’s Mahi firing range in Nyoma, around 150 km from Leh, on Thursday:
* The 226 Field Regiment had moved from Darbuk to the range for firing practice, and officers and men were staying in temporary tents. However, in a breach of rules, at least five officers allegedly also had their wives accompanying them. While families are usually invited for firing demos of artillery guns, wives and children are strictly not allowed at a firing practice session. Even at Darbuk, only a limited number of families are allowed, given that it is a designated “field area”. The Army says the wives were staying at a nearby GREF (General Reserve Engineer Force) camp.
The Army has called Thursday’s events a “minor scuffle” resulting in “superficial injuries” to four, who are in hospital. However, sources said the violence lasted several hours and that apart from the commanding officer of 226 Field Regiment, three majors and 10 jawans received injuries. A court of inquiry has been instituted.
In a statement issued today, the Army said the regiment was being moved back to its location, Darbuk, from the firing range. Commanding Officer Col. P Kadam is likely to be moved out for medical care. Kadam was reportedly already scheduled to relinquish command, and the Army said no one has been “removed, dismissed or suspended”.
Slamming “misinterpretation” and “mischievous reporting”, the Army also said, “The entire episode can at worst be seen as an isolated act of indiscipline. It can in no way be termed a mutiny.”
A reconstruction of what transpired at the Army’s Mahi firing range in Nyoma, around 150 km from Leh, on Thursday:
* The 226 Field Regiment had moved from Darbuk to the range for firing practice, and officers and men were staying in temporary tents. However, in a breach of rules, at least five officers allegedly also had their wives accompanying them. While families are usually invited for firing demos of artillery guns, wives and children are strictly not allowed at a firing practice session. Even at Darbuk, only a limited number of families are allowed, given that it is a designated “field area”. The Army says the wives were staying at a nearby GREF (General Reserve Engineer Force) camp.
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