The Army’s Eastern Command and the Kolkata Police seem to be heading for a direct confrontation regarding the senior Army officers and jawans who allegedly ran riot at the Park Street Police Station in the wee hours of Monday.The Army spokesman in Kolkata today claimed the accused personnel would be tried in a “Court of Inquiry” that had already been initiated. But the police pushed ahead with a case in Bankshall Court, stating that they want an arrest warrant against the accused, making it clear that they are seeking police custody. The State Government, on its part, took up the matter with the Union Ministry of Defence.Confirming this, Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb said: “The Park Street incident is unfortunate. We have good relations with the Army. We consider it as an isolated incident, but we want to move forward in the two cases against the accused Army officers and jawans. We want action against the accused and the Army should also take some action. The Kolkata Police have submitted us a report regarding the sequence of events on New Year’s night and the offences committed by the accused personnel. We have taken it up with the Ministry of Defence.”The Eastern Command authority, however, ruled out handing over the accused to the police, stating that the accused Army personnel would be punished if found guilty after a trial in military court.“We have initiated a Court of Inquiry, to look into the incident, and the accused senior officers and jawans will be tried according to military rules. There is no question of handing them over to the police. Only in case of culpabale homicide, murder and rape can the police straightaway go for arrest and trial,” said Wing Commander R K Das, spokesman for the Army Headquarters, Eastern Command. The Kolkata Police have, meanwhile, handed over the case to their detective department for speedy investigation. “We will progress with our own investigations approaching the civil court here. The detective department has been asked to initiate an impartial inquiry. Even if the case is pursued in the military court, we will send a requisition to the Army authorities for getting the accused officers and jawans into our custody for some time for investigation purposes. Later, they can be sent back to the Army authorities through the court,” said Prasun Mukherjee Commissioner of Kolkata Police.The Commissioner said that two separate cases have been started against the Army officers. First, on the basis of a complaint filed by Park Hotel authorities, alleging misbehaviour with women in the during New Year’s Eve celebrations by Major Chandra Pratap Singh and unruly behaviour by Captain Mahesh outside on Park Street. The second case relates to Lieutenant Colonel Pratap Singh, who is the officiating commanding officer of the 3rd Madras Regiment unit in Salt Lake, who reportedly led the Army officers and jawans to the police station along with Major Kavi. The Army personnel then forcibly freed their colleagues.Meanwhile, the accused including the senior officers resumed duty at the 3rd Madras Regiment in Salt Lake Sector V. When The Indian Express approached the regiment base, the officers refused to comment.
