An army battalion on the Siachen glacier may have faked killings of Pakistani soldiers to claim bravery awards and military citations, a report said on Friday.
The Leh-based 14 Corps headquarters is investigating the possibility that least a third of 50 'kills' in Siachen last year could be fake, according to The Hindustan Times.
The battalion could have even created dramatic videos to prove its 'efficiency', the report said.
There is no statement from army headquarters yet. But an officer told rediff.com on condition of anonymity, "From the evidence that we have, including video clips, it looks like they faked killings."
The battalion's commanding officer and others are under investigation.
A major, a member of the battalion, has given details of the operation to a court of inquiry headed by Brigadier H S Nagra, deputy general officer commanding, 3 Infantry Brigade.
The major spilled the beans after he fell out with his commanding officer, according to the report.
Between July and November 15, 2003, when the unit was posted in Siachen, the fraud was carried out under the direction of the commanding officer, who wanted his juniors to show 'initiative' in carrying out such acts, according to the major.
The major told the court of inquiry that on July 29, a lieutenant of his company reported a kill in the Chandan Complex on Siachen, though there was no enemy (Pakistani troops) movement in the area in the days before that. On August 8, the same lieutenant shot a fake video of a kill, making a rifleman play dead.
On August 24, three other 'kills' were captured on video. The colonel rang the major, asking him to ensure that it was a 'hazy video.'
The unit also built an 'enemy air defence bunker' to make the entire operation look realistic and then destroyed it for the video. On September 21, the 'enemy bunker' was destroyed using rockets and mortars. A splinter hit the major during the operation and he was evacuated. He was recommended for the Vir Chakra/Sena Medal, according to the report.
The major blew the lid off the unit's 'brave acts' last December. Since then he has briefed top commanders, including army chief General Nirmal Chand Vij.
What could open a can of worms is the major's admission before the court of inquiry that his unit is not isolated in faking kills.
On his part, the colonel as claimed that the only fake kills were those executed by the major's men.
