The Army on Monday said after preliminary investigation, they found a case of solider, who was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police’s anti-hijacking team at the Srinagar Airport for carrying two grenades, is not of a hijacking.
“There is no hijacking angle to it”, Srinagar based Defence spokesman, said. He said it was case of “carrying of grenades” and should be seen as such. He was reacting to news reports, which described the arrest as “foiling of hijacking”.
The Army, however, said it will investigate the matter and take an appropriate action.
“A soldier has been caught carrying grenade in his pocket as reported by the Airport authorities. The matter is under investigation. As per due process of law, the Army will take action against the individual,” the army spokesman, said.
Advertisement
The police on Monday morning, arrested the soldier, identified as Bhupal Mukhia of Darjeeling, at Srinagar International Airport as he was travelling with two grenades.
The police sources said the grenades were found in the soldier’s bag when he was entering the high security Airport premises for taking a flight to New Delhi. The grenades were wrapped by an adhesive tape and were tied together. The trooper informed the police that he was on leave and was on his way to his home in Darjeeling.
Mukhia is with 17-JAK Rifles and had reached the Airport from his headquarters in Boniyar, in Uri, around 80 km north of Srinagar. Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, described the case as of unaccounted weapons and ammunition in restive state of Jammu and Kashmir region.
Advertisement
“Not some thing one would usually forget to unpack before boarding a flight. Tells a wider story of the problem of unaccounted weapons & ammo,” Abdullah tweeted.
