Srinagar, June 7: Already left red-faced over its alleged harassment of tourists in Leh, Army today announced "strict disciplinary" action against one of its soldiers who was found guilty of assaulting a group of tourists in Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
  The Army action came within 24 hours of State Police registering a case against an army man for assaulting a group from Rajasthan who were on a holiday in the tourist resort of Pahalgam.
 "General Officer Commanding of Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lt Gen Syed Atta Hasnain , ordered a fast track enquiry into the incident which found the jawan guilty of unsoldierly conduct which has tarnished the name of the Army," Defence spokesman, Lt Col J S Brar said in a statement.
  He said "strict disciplinary action" has been taken against the soldier but did not elaborate. "The GOC has passed implicit directions to the rank and file to maintain the highest standards of conduct and ensure that such incidents, although an aberration, are never repeated again," the spokesman said.
 Incidentally, several people, including a women, were injured in the assault by the soldier, who was carrying a rifle at the time of the incident. A vegetable vendor, Arshad Bhat of Anantnag district, also suffered head injuries when he tried to save the tourists and was beaten up by the soldier.
 Army has been on the backfoot when it came under public domain that eight of its soliders led by an army lieutenant had allegedly harassed tourists including foreigners in Leh on the intervening night of May 30 and 31. 

Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST