New Delhi: The Army has reduced the punishment awarded to Suresh S Rao, the 'Ketchup Brigadier' who was found guilty of faking encounters in Assam in 2003 to earn rewards.
A court martial had last year ordered that Rao be dismissed from service, but the Army has given him a ‘severe reprimand’ and seven years loss of seniority.
Rao has been posted as Deputy General-Officer-Commanding of a division located in Central India, PTI reported quoting unnamed sources in the Army.
A report in The Times of India said Rao has been posted as Deputy General Officer Commanding of the 36 Infantry Division in Saugar, Madhya Pradesh.
Rao and his battalion commanders Col. H S Kohli were found guilty of photographing slain militants splashed with ketchup to claim fresh encounters.
The encounters were staged in Assam's Cachar district during Army operations against extremist groups in 2003.
Kohli, who was dubbed the ‘Ketchup Colonel’, was sacked after a court-martial in November 2004. But in January 2006 it was found that Kohli was acting on Rao's order.
Kohli, who was orderded to be cashiered from the Army, has also petitioned for "similar mitigation". Both the officers did not contest the charges and owned up responsibility.
Loss of seniority would cost the Rao a loss of over Rs 7 to Rs 8 lakh in retirement benefits.
Comments
0 comment