At a time when the feats of Kargil War heroes are being commemorated across the country, details have emerged of shameless acts of greed by several Army officials, assisted by the defence ministry's leniency under the UPA rule, that endangered security.
The defence ministry under the UPA government has admitted in the apex court to illegal sale of personal weapons and gun licences by Army officers to dubious persons in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Affidavits admitted the involvement of Army units posted in militancy-affected Kathua, Kupwara and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir in such offences.
An affidavit filed by the previous defence ministry in response to a query by the apex court, accessed by Mail Today, gives details of the punishment handed down to the 73 Army personnel - including officers of the rank of major, brigadier and lieutenant colonel - held guilty in the last three years.
The sentence for three lieutenant colonels - V.S. Rathore (who sold 17 weapons), B.S. Shekhawat (who sold 11 weapons) and Neeraj Rana (who sold five weapons) – after a hyped General Court Martial was mere forfeiture of pay hike and seniority ranging from three years to one year and "severe reprimand".
"These three officers were found to have exploited the easy availability of firearms with army officers and were actively involved in sale/purchase of weapons to various arm dealers," said the affidavit submitted by UPA's defence ministry director Praveen Kumar.
Army officers can buy weapons like 9mm pistols or .30 bolt action rifles from ordnance factories at cheap prices for personal use. These are called Non Standard Pattern weapons and cannot be sold to ordinary citizens.
The affidavit said authorities had carried out a "detailed investigation of 140 names, including retired officers, wives and civilians following a court of inquiry ordered by South Western Command between September 2007 and July 2011".
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court will pronounce its stand on the affidavit on August 26. The court sought the affidavit in response to a PIL filed in 2007 by lawyer Arvind Kumar Sharma, who drew attention to an alleged "widespread nexus" involving Army officers and arms dealers.
The court had earlier questioned the light punishment given to its Army officers, and observed: "These officers are running an industry... can we close our eyes? Are mere reprimands and fine of just Rs 500 and forfeiture of service adequate?"
via Mail Online
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The defence ministry under the UPA government has admitted in the apex court to illegal sale of personal weapons and gun licences by Army officers to dubious persons in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Punjab.
Affidavits admitted the involvement of Army units posted in militancy-affected Kathua, Kupwara and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir in such offences.
An affidavit filed by the previous defence ministry in response to a query by the apex court, accessed by Mail Today, gives details of the punishment handed down to the 73 Army personnel - including officers of the rank of major, brigadier and lieutenant colonel - held guilty in the last three years.
The sentence for three lieutenant colonels - V.S. Rathore (who sold 17 weapons), B.S. Shekhawat (who sold 11 weapons) and Neeraj Rana (who sold five weapons) – after a hyped General Court Martial was mere forfeiture of pay hike and seniority ranging from three years to one year and "severe reprimand".
"These three officers were found to have exploited the easy availability of firearms with army officers and were actively involved in sale/purchase of weapons to various arm dealers," said the affidavit submitted by UPA's defence ministry director Praveen Kumar.
Army officers can buy weapons like 9mm pistols or .30 bolt action rifles from ordnance factories at cheap prices for personal use. These are called Non Standard Pattern weapons and cannot be sold to ordinary citizens.
The affidavit said authorities had carried out a "detailed investigation of 140 names, including retired officers, wives and civilians following a court of inquiry ordered by South Western Command between September 2007 and July 2011".
A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court will pronounce its stand on the affidavit on August 26. The court sought the affidavit in response to a PIL filed in 2007 by lawyer Arvind Kumar Sharma, who drew attention to an alleged "widespread nexus" involving Army officers and arms dealers.
The court had earlier questioned the light punishment given to its Army officers, and observed: "These officers are running an industry... can we close our eyes? Are mere reprimands and fine of just Rs 500 and forfeiture of service adequate?"
via Mail Online
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