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Army chief asks media not to prejudge senior army officers | The Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday went
on the defensive on the Sukhna land scam asking the media not to prejudge judgement senior army officers. Interacting with the media here, General Kapoor said: "Its
premature to jump into any conclusions just yet, so don't pass any judgement on
senior army officers." General Kapoor's statement came a day after the Eastern
Command urged the media to maintain restraint. "The Court of Inquiry is still
going and the report is awaited. My action will be determined by the CoI report,"
General Kapoor added. " We need to be just and fair for the image of the army,"
he said. On Tuesday, Army's Eastern Command had appealed to the media to exercise
restraint in reporting on the Sukna Land issue, involving some officers. In a
statement, the Eastern Army Command said: "Certain media reports have appeared
regarding ongoing Court of Inquiry in Sukhna Land issue of Eastern Command. Since
the Court of Inquiry is still in progress and not finalized, therefore speculative
comments/interferences at this stage about the guilt of an individual is not appropriate."
The statement further went on to say; "It should also be understood that it amounts
to character assassination of senior army officers. Premature trials and verdicts
by the responsible media should be avoided." The statement by the Eastern Army
Command came days after a court of inquiry reportedly revealed that it found found
clinching proof against four serving generals in connection with the Sukna land
scam. Earlier, a section of the media reported that the CoI has indicted Military
Secretary Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash and Deputy Army Chief-designate Lt Gen P K
Rath for their role in issuing a no objection certificate to a private establishment
that falsely claimed to be establishing an affiliate of the famous Ajmer-based
Mayo College on land adjacent to the Sukhna military station in Darjeeling. Lt
Gen Avadesh Prakash is one of the top eight Principal Staff Officers at the Army
headquarters acting as advisors to Army chief General Deepak Kapoor. As Military
Secretary, is responsible for the promotion and postings of officers. Lt-Gen P
K Rath was commander of the crucial 33 Corps based in Darjeeling district of West
Bengal, under which the Sukna military station comes, when the alleged land scam
took place. The Defence Ministry has cancelled the appointment of Lt. Gen. Rath
as the new Deputy Army Chief (Information Systems and Training). Lt Gen Rath's,
former deputy, Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali is currently commanding the 11 Corps at
Jalandhar. The Commission of Inquiry has also apparently indicted some other officers
in the 'chain in command'. Sources at the Army headquarters have revealed that
evidence is still being collected to try some senior officers for gross improprieties
and irregularities through a court-martial. Defence Minister A K Antony has warned
the Army that such cases "not only damage the Indian Army's image" but also "adversely
affect the ability of senior officers to measure up to the expectations of the
men they lead." |
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