Jammu, Oct 18: The Army is likely to order internal probe into the controversy surrounding some military intelligence officials for their alleged involvement in stage-managing recovery of explosives and ammunition for promotion and monetary considerations.
 The alleged involvement of  some army officers surfaced after the Special Police Officer (SPO) Mehboob Ahmed Dar arrested in connection with the case of transportation of explosives to Jammu (Indira Chowk) on October 8  told his interrogators that he has  provided about 72 Improved Explosive Devices (IED) to army officials.
 It may be mentioned that the ‘explosives’ concealed in five boxes were recovered by police near Indira Chowk-MLA Hostel road following specific inputs.
 From the very beginning, source said, the police was suspicious about the role of military intelligence personnel in the recovery of ‘explosives ’ and a link in this connection was  developed following the arrest of an ex-serviceman identified as Ram Prashad son of Lal Chan, a resident Kishtwar presently putting up at Basant Nagar (Janipur) Jammu. Following the arrest of the ex-serviceman, police constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the recovery of IEDs and ascertain involvement of military intelligence personnel in the case of recoveries near Indira Chowk.
 “We are investigation the role of some officers of Military Intelligence in IEDs recovery case in Jammu,” Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Ashok Gupta had said.
 The preliminary investigation revealed that   some of the military intelligence officials were allegedly involved and they arranged it with the connivance of SPO Mehboob Ahmed Dar to create panic in the winter capital.
 Since the alleged reports about the involvement of military intelligence officials has added bad name to the good works done of army in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said, army authorities have taken a serious note of the issue.
 “They are planning to seek a report from the central intelligence agencies concerning the involvement of army men,” they added.
 After getting the report, sources said, the case will be studied and if   found fit for investigation, only than the army will order an internal probe in the alleged involvement of their men.
 Sources said that the rewards of those army officials will be withdrawn if their involvement in the case is proved and action against them will be taken as per the military law.
 Since the case is being investigated by police, sources said, the army has been pressurizing to cover up their involvement in the case so that their image is saved.
 However, PRO defence Lt Colonel, Biplob Nath, denied any involvement of military intelligence officials in the recovery of the explosives at Indira Chowk. “The preliminary investigation carried out by the Western Command authorities after such reports appeared in the media, has not found involvement of any MI officials”, he said.
 The PRO added that the role of MI personnel in this case was limited to provide timely inputs to the police authorities.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST