Karnataka - Bangalore

Karwar ruckus: court of inquiry finds Captain guilty

Bangalore: The Court of Inquiry (CoI) ordered by the Army into the ruckus between troops from the 5/5 Gurkha Regiment, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), railway employees, civilians and the police at the Karwar railway station on February 21 has found a Captain of the regiment guilty under the Army Act 63.

Captain Mahesh Karki has been held guilty of “violation of good order and military discipline”.

Disclosing this to The Hindu on Saturday the Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area Commander, Brigadier Clement Samuel, under whose jurisdiction the discipline of army personnel in the two States comes, said that the findings of the CoI had been sent to the Captain’s then Brigade Commander at Port Blair. Once the Brigade Commander gave his views, a summary of evidence would be ordered.

According to the CoI, the Captain’s smoking on the Karwar railway station platform had set off a chain of events which led to violence and arson at the station and also in the surrounding areas. Many vehicles were burnt. However, the three-member CoI that was headed by a Colonel also held that the RPF, civil police and railway staff at the station, including a ticket examiner, guilty of provoking the Captain and his men into unruly behaviour.

It is left to be seen what penal action will be recommended by the Brigade Commander against the young officer, whose petulant behaviour caused the Army as well as himself much embarrassment.

It could range from a warning to reprimand to severe reprimand.

The Captain is currently posted with the Assam Riffles.

Troops from the Gorkha Regiment were in Karwar as part of a training programme at INS Kadamba, the Navy’s futuristic naval base.

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