The court marshal proceeding in 2012 violent clash between officers and jawans of an artillery regiment in Nyoma sector is expected to conclude soon and the fate of nearly 168 personnel including four top officers will be decided.
The violent brawl broke out on May 10, 2012 in the 226 Field Artillery Regiment at the Mahe field firing ranges near Nyoma in eastern Ladakh.
The incident took place after jawans became furious over a fellow soldier allegedly being thrashed by young officers for daring to complain about the behaviour of a major's wife.
It had left the unit commanding officer Colonel Prasad Kadam, two Majors and two jawans hospitalised with limb fractures, bruises and other injuries.
"The Army will conclude court martial proceedings, being held at Akhnoor-based Army formation anytime now in the case of violent clash between officers and jawans of an artillery regiment in Nyoma sector of Eastern Ladakh in 2012," an Army officer said.
Army is going to court martial as many as 168 personnel, including a colonel, two majors, a captain and 17 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), for the violent clash, Army Officials said.
The 2,000 page court of inquiry (CoI) report, approved by the Northern Army Command, has recommended "disciplinary action" against Col Kadam and three other officers, 17 JCOs and 147 jawans.
The charges range from assault and gross indiscipline to breach of conduct and "total command and control failure".
They said that the CoI, investigating the circumstances under which the untoward incident took place, examined 216 witnesses.
The 168 personnel, who have been found prima facie guilty, have been attached to different formations around Jammu.
Confirming that court martial proceedings are in final stage, defence spokesman said that it will held next week and he does not have any details concerning it.
The accused are undergoing general court martial in Akhnoor-based 10 infantry division, they said.
The 226 Field Regiment presently based in Nasirabad itself could be "disbanded" at a later stage, with its around 550 soldiers being posted to different units.
Top Army leadership has taken serious view of the spike in stand-offs between officers and jawans.
