Jammu, January 11
The Army has initiated disciplinary action against 10 soldiers and administrative action against three officers as per the recommendations made in one of the two courts of inquiries ordered to probe the sale of special ration meant for the Army in Ladakh.

According to Jammu-based PRO of 16 Corps Lt-Col S.D. Goswami, “The Army had ordered two courts of inquiry in the matter, one court of inquiry has been completed and disciplinary action has been directed against 10 soldiers while administrative action is being taken against three officers.”

Adding he said, “The second court of inquiry is under progress and will be finalised shortly.”

The matter came to light when the police in Leh found that special ration meant for Army personnel deployed in Siachen was being sold in the open market.

The police lodged an FIR in the matter, in which it had named five officers for their involvement in the pilferage of the army ration; however the Army says that two of the five army officers named were never posted in the area.

“The police had named five officers in their FIR, however we have repeatedly intimated the police that out of those five army officers named in the FIR, two were never posted in Leh, whereas out of the remaining three, two have been posted out and one officer is presently posted in Leh,” the PRO said.

The Army has said the officer present in Leh was available to any police inquiry to clarify any matter of provide details relevant to the police investigations.

“We have asked the police to intimate the allegations against two of the officers who have been posted out of Ladakh so that case can be taken up for their movement to Leh,” the PRO said. The PRO alleged that the Army has so far received no response from the police in this regard.

“We have always extended our full cooperation to the police in the investigation of the pilferage of the Army ration. We have also informed the local police that the Army personnel shall be made available to answer any query at headquarter of 3 infantry division,” Goswami said.

Adding he said, “The officers of the rank of Brigadier and Colonel have met the police authorities and informed them about the action taken by the army against the personnel found blameworthy by the court of inquiry which has been completed. The also expressed full support in the second court of enquiry being processed at the formation headquarters.”