Army officer says she was tortured

A woman army officer has levelled the charges of physical and mental harassment on her superiors. Captain Poonam Kaur, presently posted in army supply and transport unit, alleged that three officers including the commanding officer had been harassing her, besides confining her in her house at the army unit.

Poonam, presently posted at Kalka, alleged that the officers — Col RK Sharma, Lt Col Ajay Chawla and Major Suraj Bhan — has mentally harassed her. She said that in a move to put her under unnecessary stress, the officials had posted her to a unit in Pathankot.

When she moved a written request seeking a meeting with the Major General, ASC, she was asked to submit a written request about what she wanted to say.

Her mother, Hardev Kaur, while talking to mediapersons, said that the officers had directed Poonam to vacate the accommodation allotted to her and these instructions came during late hours two days ago.

She alleged that though earlier officers were sent to Pathankot on temporary assignments and the same was verbally communicated to Poonam, her orders stated that she had been permanently posted there.

Meanwhile, an official release from the army denied the allegations. It stated that Poonam had been posted at Kalka on October 18, 2007.

Later in December 2007, she requested for a married accommodation and to allow her mother to stay with her, which was given to her even though, being unmarried, she was not entitled for the same.

On June 30, she was ordered to move to Pathankot for commanding one of the detachments of her unit. But on July 12, she refused to move to Pathankot, thereby disobeying the orders.