Police vs. Army: Two Sides of the Bomdila Incident
The Bomdila incident sparked widespread debate after a video went viral showing a confrontation between police officers and army personnel. Both sides have their versions of events. Let’s examine them objectively.
📌 Police Version
According to the police authorities, two jawans from the 2nd Army Scout Battalion were accused of disrupting the Buddha Mahotsav event. The police took them into custody but released them the following day.
However, tensions escalated when the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion arrived at the police station and allegedly threatened the officers. This interaction was captured in a video that soon went viral. Following this, a group of army personnel stormed the police station, misbehaved with senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy SP (DSP), the latter being a woman officer.
📌 Army Version
The 2nd Battalion Army Scout CO presents a different narrative. According to the army’s account:
- The two jawans were not just detained but allegedly assaulted while in police custody.
- The accusation against them was that they were intoxicated and causing a disturbance.
- An army officer was sent to resolve the issue, but the police refused to release the jawans.
- When the CO personally arrived, he was met with hostile treatment and was reportedly told, “Jo ukhadna hai ukhad lo” (Do whatever you want).
- Feeling disrespected, the CO reacted strongly, which was partially captured in the viral video.
- The soldiers’ anger intensified when they learned their CO was mistreated, leading to the confrontation at the police station.
🧐 Key Questions That Need Answers
1️⃣ If the jawans were accused of misconduct by civilians, why didn’t the police file an FIR against them?
2️⃣ If the police knew they were army personnel, why didn’t they follow protocol and inform the nearest army authority under Section 475?
3️⃣ Regardless of their identity, does the law permit police officers to physically assault detainees?
4️⃣ Once the CO arrived at the police station, why weren’t the jawans immediately handed over instead of escalating the situation?
5️⃣ Why did certain IPS/IAS associations share only the trimmed video clip showing the CO issuing a warning, without providing the full context?
6️⃣ In the video, the CO is heard saying, “Don’t you dare touch my boys”, indicating the jawans had already been mistreated.
7️⃣ The army does not shield soldiers who break the law; they have a strict internal disciplinary system. Why wasn’t this route followed instead?
🤔 A Simple Analogy – What Would You Do?
Imagine you live with your family—your wife and child. One day, your child misbehaves with a neighbor. Instead of informing you, the neighbor beats your child severely, breaking his arm.
- When your wife confronts them, she is humiliated.
- When you step in, you face the same treatment.
- The neighbor records only a small part of your reaction, posts it online, and files a complaint against you.
👉 What would you do in this situation? Would you stay silent, or would you demand justice?
📜 Supporting Legal Facts
According to legal experts, police officers do not have the authority to physically assault individuals for violating rules. The law provides specific procedures for handling misconduct, and brutality is never justified.
Source: Times of India – “Police can’t hit a person for violating rules: Legal experts”
🚀 Conclusion: Was This a Clash Between Institutions or Mishandling by Officials?
This incident, which started as an individual-level case, quickly turned into a conflict between two security forces. Could the situation have been handled differently if proper protocols were followed?
💬 What do you think? Was the escalation justified, or was it a result of mishandling?