Shillong, Jan 8: An Army Major posted here has alleged assault and humiliation at the hands of personnel of Army 101 area in the city and those from the Mountain Division, Rangia.
Though the incident was during the Cherry Blossom Festival in Ri Bhoi on November 15 last year, the delay in filing the FIR was since the victim, Vinay Kumar Singh,was undergoing treatment in Kolkata, sources said.
According to the FIR, the fault of Singh, who is currently posted as Assistant Chief Law Officer, Assam Rifles, was that while dancing, he accidentally touched General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division.
The FIR which was lodged at Kench’s Trace Beat House, Rilbong on December 14 last year was forwarded to Umiam police station as the incident took place under its jurisdiction.
On January 2, a case was registered which is Umiam PS Case No. 2(1)25, U/S.109(1)/117(3)/126(2)/337/339/61(2)/3(5) BNS
The FIR also alleged that his Medico Legal Case (MLC) was altered at Military Hospital, Shillong on November 17 but he refused to sign the altered version as he stood by his statement that the he was assaulted by the personnel of Army 101 area and others.
Following the MLC, he was summoned by the police on December 13. Subsequently on December 14, he lodged the FIR along with photographs of his assault and medical documents.
Unedited text of the FIR below
To
The In-Charge,
Kench’s Trace Beat House, Police Station,
Shillong, Meghalaya.
SUBJECT: FIRST INFORMATION REPORT
Respected Sir,
In light of the above-mentioned subject, I wish to formally report and present the following details:-
1. “Sir, I am SS-48571W, Major Vinay Kumar Singh, Assistant Chief Law Officer, Assam Rifles. With lot of pain & grief I want to report about the incident of assault, grievous hurt and an attempt to take my life, that occurred on the evening of 15 November 2024 around 2200 hours at “Cherry Blossom Festival, 2024” Umroi, Shillong, Meghalaya by the Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and men of Headquarter 101 Area and Headquarter 21 Mountain Division, Rangia on the orders of General Officer Commanding 101 Area & General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division.
2. That on 14 November 2024, at around 1740 hours I received a message on WhatsApp messenger from Major Avinash Maan, Intelligence Officer (on temporary duty at Headquarter Directorate General Assam Rifles) confirming that, my entry passes for ‘Cherry Blossom Festival-2024’ has been arranged and on 15 November 2024 around 1237 hours he also shared a PDF containing ‘Cherry Blossom Festival Guide’. Thereafter, at around 1630 hours, self, Lieutenant Colonel Rajwinder Singh along with his wife & daughter, Major Amit Thakur along with his wife & son, Major Sneha Sharma and Commandant Shweta Babanagare proceeded for attending the ‘Cherry Blossom Festival- 2024 concert from Happy Valley in two separate vehicles. In the first vehicle self, Lieutenant Colonel Rajwinder Singh & his family & in the second vehicle remaining officers were travelling. While we were proceeding towards the venue I received a SMS from Major Avinash Maan stating that his NCO named Rubul will provide me entry passes and shared his contact number with me.
3. On reaching the venue at 1815 hours I tried to establish contact with the Intelligence NCO on the mobile phone number shared with me i.e. 8257040733. However, due to network issues at the venue, I couldn’t establish contact with him. After making various attempts, I was able to get in touch with Major Avinash Maan. Around 1900 hours Maj Avinash Maan received me at the VVIP entrance gate and escorted me till the spectator area earmarked for defence personnel including officers from Army, Air force & Assam Rifles where the seating arrangements, bar and snacks counters were arranged for officers and their families. I met other officers and ladies from the Assam Rifles & Army and greeted them. Between 2130-2145 hours while I was enjoying the concert with the other officers of Assam Rifles and their families few people came to me in the presence of everyone and enquired about my identity, I disclosed my identity by stating that ‘I am Major Vinay Singh from Assam Rifles’, on hearing this Colonel Nilanjan Biswas, Commanding Officer Provost Unit, Headquarter 101 Area and another person possibly an Army Officer in civil dress accompanied by others showed indifferent behavior and while manhandling proceeded to take me down from the stage, at that movement I inquired them “Hua Kya hai sir, what have I done” when I was inquiring this, I heard someone saying that “Sort him out, I want report in half an hour” on inquiring later I came to know about the name of the person who passed these specific imperious & domineering orders, this order was passed by Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik, General Officer Commanding, 101 Area.
4. On such imperious & domineering orders Colonel Niranjan Biswas, Commanding Officer, Provost Unit 101 Area along with other officers who were in civil dress pulled me down from the stage and took me towards the entry/exit point passage. At that movement also I kept on asking everyone “What have I done, Why you all are behaving with me like this” at this moment I also heard someone shouting ‘arrest him’, while I was asking all this from the officers who were acting on the orders of General Officer Commanding 101 Area, at that time Lieutenant Colonel Tirthankar of Assam Rifles Training Centre & School, Diphu came for my rescue, however, while he was also trying to find out about the reasons of such actions from me, I again enquired from Lieutenant Colonel Tirthankar that, “Sir, please ask them what have I done, what is my mistake”, at that time I was surrounded by the Colonel Nilanjan Biswas, Colonel Pankaj Mishra and Second in Command (2IC) of Provost Unit 101 Area, few more officers in civil dress and CMP personnel of 101 Area, simultaneously, Lieutenant Colonel Tirthankar approached Colonel Niranjan Biswas & started asking about the reason of such atrocious behavior. To my utter shock and surprise a person (could be Colonel Pankaj Mishra, whose identity I discovered later) amongst the crowd held my collar and other persons amongst the crowd pushed me on the ground due to which I got disbalanced and fell on the ground. At that moment, in the state of immense pain & grief I responded and said how dare you touch my collar and in my self defense and in the mental state of being humiliated without any reason despite of me continuously asking what crime/mistake I have done, I would have abused to the persons who were getting physical with me by holding my collar and pushing me on ground. Thereafter, someone amongst these officers including the Second in Command (2IC) of Provost Unit 101 Area told the CMP personnel to call for more Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and men of CMP and concurrently I was taken forcefully against my will towards the entrance/exit gate, up till this movement Lieutenant Colonel Tirthankar was with Colonel Nilanjan Biswas and witnessed the illegal actions of the officers and men of 101 Area. My identity was further disclosed by the other officers present at the venue, the same can be also confirmed from Major Arnit Thakur of HQ DGAR and Major Avinash Maan (on Temporary Duty at HQ DGAR).
5. When I was thrown out of the gate on the direct orders of Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik, General Officer Commanding 101 Area, in completely devastated and helpless state I was standing near the vehicles of Assam Rifles in the parking area outside the entry/exit gate and was trying to assimilate & understand that what has just happened with me, at that time Major Arnav Magoo Officiating Staff Officer of General Officer Commanding 101 Area approached me and started conversing with me. I enquired him also that, “what have I done” and Major Arnav Magoo said that, “while dancing you accidently touched General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division” and he further said to me that, “General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division is very nice man, Sir aap unko sorry bol do sab theek ho jayega” I again asked him that, “I should say sorry to him for what reason”. However, he kept on repeating the same and asked me to come along with him to apologize to General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division & General Officer Commanding 101 Area. I was convinced and proceeded to convey my apologies to General Officer Commanding 21 Mountain Division & General Officer Commanding 101 Area, despite not knowing the exact reason of my alleged mistake, forced humiliation and injury to my character publically. While we were approaching the gate, just outside the gate 2-3 officers including Colonel Nilanjan Biswas along with Second in Command (2IC CMP), Provost Unit Headquarter 101 Area, Colonel Pankaj Mishra, Major Arnav Magoo, others in civil dress and CMP JCO (possibly Subedar Rajesh Kumar) who was tall heighted & strong build and 5-6 other CMP personnel held me and started fighting with me. They continuously assaulted & punched me on my face, head and neck and also while they were assaulting me they fractured my little finger & ring finger of my left hand. Colonel Nilanjan Biswas, Colonel Pankaj Mishra, Second in Command, Provost Unit HQ 101 Area (2IC CMP), Major Arnav Magoo, few others in civil dress all were present at that movement and instigated them, in the state of completely disheartened and to save my life, I tried to protect myself & in self defence I would have hit, pushed them. My T-shirt was torn, there was blood on my face, I sustained a deep cut under my left eye and my fingers (Little & Ring of left hand) were fractured and were badly swollen. My T-shirt was soaked with blood, and I have preserved it.
6. That none of the Assam Rifles Officers/Army Officers were with me I was left all alone there to get beaten and broken by the goons in uniform of Headquarter 101 Area on the orders of General Officer Commanding 101 Area, which was being executed by Colonel Nilanjan Biswas, Colonel Pankaj Mishra, Second in Command (2IC) of Provost Unit 101 Area, Major Arnav Magoo and Subedar Rajesh Kumar other officers/civilians in civil dress with the help of Junior Commissioned Officers & men of CMP 101 Area.
7. After the ‘assault, grievous injuries and in attempt to take my life’, I came back to the parking area and requested some unknown person to please call any driver of Assam Rifles, the driver came and made me sit in the official car of Lieutenant Colonel Rajwinder Singh with whom I had come to the concert. After some time other Officers with whom I had come, Lieutenant Colonel Rajwinder Singh, Major Amit Thakur, Major Sneha Sharma, Commandant Shweta Babanagare and I left with them for our respective locations in Shillong. Till then no body enquired about my well being or reported the matter to my superior officers who were also available in the concert.
8. When I reached back to my residence at Laitkor, Shillong at 0500 hours on 16 November 2024 I sent a WhatsApp message to my Head of the Branch, Colonel Rahul Soni, Chief Law Officer who was on leave & inquired whether he was awake or not, however, I did not receive any reply from him till 0850 Hours, I called him up on his mobile phone and narrated him the entire incident and forwarded the photographs of my injuries taken by me. He directed me to report the incident to Additional Director General Assam Rifles through his staff officer. On the same day after reporting the incident in the channel of command I received the initial treatment at Assam Rifles Multispecialty Hospital (ARMH), Laitkor, Shillong where my X-Ray report confirmed that I have a fractured fingers and sustained injuries under my eyes along with confirmation on other injuries and bruises. I was having severe pain in my fingers, around my neck, behind my head and ears due to assault and crime committed by the officers and personnel of Headquarter 101 Area on the orders of Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik, General Officer Commanding 101 Area. Assam Rifles Multispecialty Hospital referred me to Military Hospital, Shillong for further treatment & management of my injuries.
9. On 17 November 2024 around 1300 Hours, I proceeded to Military Hospital, Shillong along with Commandant Vinod Kumar Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, ARMH and Major Sridhar J, after reporting the matter at Military Hospital, Shillong a Medico Legal Case (MLC) was registered by Major Shalini Kumari, Duty Medical Officer, at page no 222 of the Medico Legal Register, wherein, the time & circumstances under which the injury was sustained were recorded as follows:-
Date & time: 15 November 2024, at 2200 Hours
Site: Venue of Cherry Blossom Festival 2024, Umiam, Shillong, Meghalaya.
Circumstances under which injury was sustained: On the directions & supervision of Commanding Officer CMP (Headquarter 101 Area) Colonel Niranjan Biswas, 21C CMP and Major Arnav instructed Junior Commissioned Officers and men of CMP 101 Area and along with them have beaten the officer Major Vinay Kumar Singh while taking him to isolated area and attempted to cause murder & grievous injuries.
10. Thereafter, around 1945 Hours, I was admitted in the Officer’s ward. Around 2000 Hours Major Shalini, Duty Medical Officer came to me with a changed/altered version of the MLC report endorsed at Page No 223 of Medico Legal Register which was against the details which I had narrated initially. The MLC issued at page no 222 was crossed by her, on enquiring the reason for such illegality she informed me that some senior officer instructed her to do so. Then, I refused to give my thumb impression on the changed/altered MLC. After my refusal to endorse my signature/thumb impression on the changed version of MLC around 2020 Hours, Colonel Rimil came to the Officer’s Ward & introduced himself as the Registrar of Military Hospital, Shillong and asked me to give thumb impression on the changed MLC issued at Page no 223, I asked him why my initial statement has been changed, Colonel Rimil stated that, it’s our prerogative to write in the MLC, and told me that the Court of Inquiry which will be initiated soon will find out everything. The statement made by him was in a threatening manner and tone. Once I refused to give my thumb impression very politely and with all due respect to his seniority, while leaving the Officer Ward the Colonel Rimil, Registrar Military Hospital, Shillong said “go Spk to Khatri (Colonel Medical, Headquarters Directorate General Assam Rifles)” on to that I said to Registrar that, sir my case is being looked by my seniors i.e. Additional Director General Assam Rifles & Chief Law Officer Assam Rifles, to which Registrar said you can inform your Director General also. Thereafter, I informed about this incident to my Head of Branch, Colonel Rahul Soni, Chief Law Officer through WhatsApp messenger and phone call.
11. Next day on 18 November 2024 I was referred to Military Hospital, Guwahati to Ortho specialist, ENT specialist and EYE specialist for further treatment and medical advice. During the examination at Military Hospital, Guwahati I was advised for Reconstruction Surgery for fracture, further, during my ENT examination it was also detected that I have hearing loss due to usage of blunt force on my neck, head and ears. During the EYE examination my vision was found unharmed & intact. Thereafter, I was referred to Command Hospital, Eastern Command for Reconstruction Surgery & to ENT Specialist. On 19 November 2024 I reported at Command Hospital, Eastern Command. On 20 November 2024 medical tests were carried out and on 21 November 2024 1 underwent Reconstruction surgery (CRIF with K-Wire fixation under RA) for FRACTURE DISTAL PHALANX RING FINGER & FRACTURE MIDDLE PHALANX LITTLE FINGER LEFT HAND (ICD Code: S62.7). Further, on 22 & 23 November 2024 Department of ENT carried out ‘Pure Tone Audiometry’ (PTA) & ‘Tympanometry’ test wherein hearing loss was detected and I was further advised for repeat PTA after 02 weeks & for fractures I was placed in LMC A4 (T-04). I was granted sick leave for 4 weeks with effect from 23 November 2024 to 21 December 2024, It is crucial to note herein, that prior to the incident, my Medical Category was SHAPE-1 (Medically FIT in all aspects), my last Periodic Medical Examination (PME) was carried out in Military Hospital, Shillong in May 2024.
12. On 24 November 2024 I reported back to my duty station. On my return I was shown a MLC No. 422 issued by Major Shalini Kumari, Duty Medical Officer, Military Hospital Shillong, which I confirmed to my superior officers that the MLC issued by Military Hospital, Shillong is incorrect and it does not include the details which I had narrated to the Duty Medical Officer on 17 November 2024 and the same has been altered by medical authorities of Military Hospital, Shillong. The time of the incident was changed from 2200 Hours to 2230 Hours. The MLC issued at page no 222 of MLC register had specific details with regard to names of the offenders who committed the crime, however, the MLC issued later did not include any details of offenders the details were removed by the Major Shalini Kumari with the ill intentions to help the criminals involved in the incident. For seeking clarification on the illegal actions of the medical authorities of Military Hospital, Shillong a letter was forwarded by Headquarter Directorate General Assam Rifles, however, no clarification has been received as on date.
13. Sir, the incident as detailed, was a premeditated and deliberate act. It was a calculated conspiracy not only aimed at causing me harm, grievous hurt, but also at attempting to take my life. In addition to the physical assault and an attempt to take my life, there was a subsequent act to manipulate the Medical Legal Certificate (MLC) which is a Government Document, through forgery and using a fraudulent document as genuine, in an effort to conceal the truth of the incident. This manipulation appears to be a deliberate attempt to obscure the actual circumstances, thereby obstructing justice and hindering a fair investigation into the matter.
14. Sir, the individuals listed below are the ones responsible for perpetrating and committing the aforementioned act against me. These individuals have directly engaged in the act.
i Lieutenant General Sanjay Malik, General Commanding Officer 101 Area
ii. General Commanding Officer 21 Mountain Division, Rangia
iii Colonel Nilanjan Biswas, Commanding Officer, Provost Unit, HQ 101 Area
iv. Colonel Pankaj Mishra, HQ 101 Area
V. Second in command (2IC CMP), Provost Unit, HQ 101 Area
vi. Major Arnav Magoo, Officiating Staff Officer to General Commanding Officer 101 Area (Posted at 58 GTC)
vii. Major Shalini Kumari, (DMO) attending doctor, Military Hospital Shillong
viii. Colonel Rimil, Officiating Registrar MH Shillong
ix. Subedar Rajesh Kumar, CMP JCO, HQ 101 Area
Χ. Other unidentified personnel from Headquarter 101 Area and Headquarter 21 Mountain Division.
15. Sir, I would also like to provide clarification regarding the delay in filing this FIR. Sir, in the normal course of military protocol, I reported the incident to my superior officers, including Colonel Rahul Soni, Chief Law Officer, through proper channels. I was undergoing extensive medical treatment at Assam Rifles Multispecialty Hospital, Military Hospital Shillong, and Command Hospital Eastern Command, including surgery and recovery from my injuries. Further, I was under the impression that the initial MLC, which contains all relevant details of the incident, would be forwarded to the Local Police as per standard procedure. I awaited a response or call from the police authorities for further investigation. However, upon being summoned to the Police Station on 13-12-2024, I was shocked to find that the MLC forwarded to the Police was manipulated, false, and forged. This fake document omitted critical details and misrepresented the incident, which necessitated this F.I.R. to bring the true facts to light.
16. Sir, I respectfully request that you take appropriate legal action with regard to this incident and charge the individuals named above with the offenses of causing grievous hurt, attempting to take my life, forgery under the relevant provisions of law and using as genuine a forged document. I remain in constant apprehension that these individuals may go to great lengths to cover up their actions and obstruct justice. Given the gravity of the situation, I humbly urge you to take swift and immediate action to ensure that justice is served and to prevent any further attempts to conceal the truth”.
Dated 14, Dec 2024
Vinay Kumar Singh
Major, Asst Chief Law Officer
Directorate General Assam Rifles
