Police Record Girl’s Statement After Major Leetul Gogoi’s Detention in Srinagar Hotel

The Jammu and Kashmir police have recorded the statement of the girl who was to meet Major Leetul Gogoi at a Srinagar hotel. Sources said the girl has not alleged any coercion at the moment.

Gogoi’s decision to tie a civilian to the bonnet of his vehicle in Kashmir last year sparked a row.

“We recorded her statement in presence of a magistrate. We have also examined the documents which showed that she is a major but further inquiry is being done to ascertain her age,” a top police officer told CNN News18.

Only after the full inquiry will a call be taken if any offence under law is made out and if an FIR should be registered.

Sources said the police have recorded the statement of the parents of the girl, the driver who brought her to the hotel and the hotel manager who called the police after the altercation.

Major Gogoi got into an altercation on Wednesday after the hotel staff stopped him from meeting a Kashmiri girl who had come to see him at the hotel. Major Gogoi had booked an upper storey room in the hotel for two people.

Police recorded the statement of the Major and allowed him to go back to his unit. Sources said Gogoi could not explain why he had booked the hotel room and prima facie it does look like that he is on conflict with service rules of Army.

“Did he inform his unit about his stay in the hotel? Army officers are not supposed to be outside their camp without official intimation and without security,” a source said.

Srinagar’s SP North probing the incident is likely to seek details from the Army on Thursday on whether they were aware of Major Gogoi's presence in the hotel and the reason he went there.

“It all now depends on what the Army tells us. We will give a report to them if a breach of service rules case is made out and then further action will be left to them,” an official in the know of the probe told CNN News18.

The Army Chief is scheduled to visit the Valley on Thursday and is likely to meet the top brass of the Jammu and Kashmir police. Major Gogoi’s issue might come up during discussions.