PUNE: The city-headquartered Southern Command of the Army on Tuesday issued a statement defending a colonel and 30-40 jawans booked by Pune rural police for allegedly destroying soyabean farm of a farmer, with whom the Army officer has a land dispute. 

The Army also questioned the FIR alleging that ‘affluent people’ lodged the complaint. According to Southern Command, ammunition collection party comprising a Junior Commissioned Officer & 13 Other Ranks along with two ALS and two HMVs (total four vehicles) from Artillery Centre, Hyderabad proceeded to Dehu Road for collection of ammunition on June 18 from Hyderabad. The party was then to move from Dehu Road to Devlali Field Firing Ranges for Field Firing (training activity) that was scheduled June 28 onwards. On June 22, after collection of ammunition, while on move from Dehu Road to Nashik, the party halted for lunch at village (Gulani) at the house of their Commanding Officer Colonel Kedar Gaikwad, who was on leave.

“As per standard procedure of army, the ammunition collection party had an armed escort, which continued to remain near the loaded ammunition vehicles, which were parked outside the village for the entire duration. The remaining party only moved for lunch to the house of Col Kedar Gaidwad, which was 500 metres away. After the lunch, the party left for Nashik. No altercation or interaction reportedly took place between the villagers and the Army personnel. However, a few affluent people of same village, who were involved in the land dispute with the family of Colonel Kedar Gaikwad, lodged an FIR. In the FIR, it has been alleged that the officer used the armed soldiers to threaten local villagers. The matter is being investigated,” the reply from the Army stated.

Senior police and revenue department officials visited Gulani village. IG (Kolhapur range) Suhas Warke, SP (Pune rural) Sandip Patil and other officials interacted with both parties in the case.