Srinagar: Major Leetul Gogoi, the Army officer who tied a man to the bonnet of a jeep as a ‘human shield’ against a stone-pelting mob in Jammu and Kashmir, has been awarded by Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) Commendation Card for his sustained distinguished service till now in counter-insurgency operations in the state.
He has been performing his counter-insurgency duties for more than a year with the 53 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gogoi belongs to the Army Supply Corps of the Indian Army.
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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.
While awarding the officer, all factors including a notable performance of the officer and overall emerging indicators of the Court of Inquiry have been well-considered.