DHARAMSALA: Army officials were trying to salvage the situation after the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Kangra had is: sued arrest warrants against an Anny Major following a tiff with him during a traffic check in the main Kotwali Bazar here on June 26.
Major M B. Thapliyaot the Ninth Punjab Regiment against whom the warrants were issued however managed to procure pre-arrest bail in the court of the District and Sessions Judge on Tuesday
Top Anny officials held meetings on Wednesday with the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police Kangra and also with the District and Sessions Judge to discuss various aspects of the episode.
Sources say the higher Army authorities had also been apprised of the matter. This is the second incident during the last few months when the Army has been involved in a row with the civil authorities in April the Nahan incident involving the Army and police had attracted a lot of attention During the traffic check on Sunday the CJM reportedly objected to the parking of an Army vehicle ‘on the roadside in the main bazar.
Later the CJM made a case of theft and issued arrest warrants against the Major for defiance of order and for creating traffic hindrance.
Sources said that on Monday a Subinspector went to arrest the Major who was reported by the Army authorities to be out-of station. Next day pre-arrest bail was granted to the Major in the court of the District and Sessions Judge.
Army sources said that there was resentment among a section of the Amy which felt that the magistrate had acted beyond his powers.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 1, 1994
