Army probes sexual harassment allegations against Maj Gen

Srinagar, Sep 7 (UNI) The Srinagar-based XV Corps has launched an inquiry into a complaint of misconduct by a woman officer against General Officer-in-Commanding (GOC) Leh Division Major General A K Lal, who has been attached with the Chinar Corps headquarters following the allegations, a defence spokesman said today.

He said XV Corps GOC Lt Gen A S Sekhon was conducting the probe into the complaint of misconduct against Maj Gen Lal, the GOC of the Leh-based 3 Infantry Division, made by Captain Neha Rawat.

The complaint related to actions by Maj Gen Lal during a meditation session conducted by him, the spokesman added.

''If true, the action violates the norms of conduct expected of an officer and a gentleman,'' he said.

Capt Rawat had accused Maj Gen Lal of sexual harassment during the meditation session.

A UNI report from Chandigarh yesterday said the family of Maj Gen Lal strongly denied the allegations against him.

In a news conference there, Ms Silpi Lal Sharma, daughter of Maj Gen Lal, said Capt Rawat's allegations were false and motivated.

She alleged that the woman officer had herself been reprimanded thrice on account of her ''unbecoming conduct.'' ''We are pained and anguished by various news reports in this regard and felt compelled to put the record straight,'' she said.

Reacting to the allegations, Maj Gen Lal's wife Akanksha Lal said her husband was innocent and had ''spotlessly clean record''. Capt Rawat was misleading the media by making such allegations, she said.

Ms Archana Sharma, Maj Gen Lal's sister, said her brother's service record of more than 25 years was unblemished.

UNI