Srinagar, May 25 (Agencies): Major Leetul Gogoi, who shot to fame last year for allegedly tying a civilian to an army vehicle as a human shield against a mob, faces exemplary punishment if he is found guilty in Wednesday’s incident at a hotel involving a woman, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said.

The police had detained Major Gogoi briefly here after an altercation when he was allegedly trying to enter a hotel with a woman, whom the hotel staff suspected to be a minor.

“If any officer of the Indian army is found guilty of any offence, we will take strictest possible action,” Gen. Rawat told reporters at Pahalgham while on a visit to the Army Goodwill School. 

“If Major Gogoi has done something wrong, I assure you that he will be awarded punishment at the earliest...the punishment will set an example,” the army chief said.

The Jammu & Kashmir Police has initiated an inquiry into the incident involving Maj Gogoi. He was later handed over to his army unit, 53 Rashtriya Rifles, one of the counter-insurgency battalions attached to regular army units.

No wrongdoing involving Major Gogoi, a decorated officer, has been established so far in the hotel incident. Some hotel employees said the Kashmiri girl appeared to be a minor but police said the girl told them she was 19, and backed up her claim with documents.

The army has ordered an internal probe. Valley police chief S.P. Pani has also ordered an inquiry.