New Delhi/Srinagar, May 11
In a virtual free-for-all, soldiers and officers of an Army unit posted at a remote area of Ladakh clashed among themselves after a jawan allegedly misbehaved with an officer’s wife yesterday.

Among the six injured were the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 226 Field Regiment, Colonel Prasad Kadam, and a Major.

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry and the injured are being treated at the Leh Military Hospital. The Defence Ministry has also sought a report. Army Chief General VK Singh spoke to Northern Army Commander KT Parnaik and discussed the issue.

Army spokesman Colonel Jagdeep Dahiya said the situation was under control.  

The incident took place at Mahe near the Nyoma airfield in Leh, about 50 km from the Line of Actual Control, reports said.

Sources said the Regiment — some 550 men and officers — had just finished its firing practice last evening when a fight broke out after a ‘sahayak’ (identified as Suman Ghosh) allegedly misbehaved with a Major’s wife.

The Major then allegedly beat up the jawan and did not allow his medical treatment, fuelling anger among the colleagues. The situation worsened after news reached the Commanding Officer, who reportedly shouted at the Major for his behaviour. The Major, accompanied by five of his colleagues, then, allegedly assaulted the CO in the presence of the jawans, a PTI report said.

The jawans briefly took control of the armoury, but did not withdraw any weapons, sources said. The unit was cordoned off this morning by the Army and state police. The General Office Commanding (GOC) 14 Corps Lt Gen Ravi Dastane visited the place this morning.

Superintendent of Police (Leh) Vivek Gupta was camping in Nyoma along with heavy reinforcements following a report by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate that Army jawans, armed with sticks and knives, were holding a protest, sources said.