SRINAGAR: An Indian Army Major has been dismissed from service for possessing and sharing classified information.
As reported by Kashmir Media Service, the Major, who was stationed with the Strategic Forces Command, responsible for India’s nuclear arsenal, was found to be in violation of security protocols for keeping classified information on his phone, according to sources within the Indian defense and security establishment. He was suspended last year.
Reports indicate that the Major was a member of a WhatsApp group known as “Patiala Peg,” where unauthorized conversations allegedly took place. Twenty other officers, including a Brigadier-ranked official, are also being investigated for separate matters related to the ‘Patiala Peg’ group. The Major’s mobile phone was confiscated and examined during the investigation.
Indian Army Initiates Inquiry
It is reported that the Indian Army initiated an inquiry into the Major’s activities in March 2022 when authorities discovered his alleged involvement in suspicious activities, which included the possession and sharing of sensitive information.
The order to terminate the Major’s service, executed under the Army Act, 1950, was signed by the President, who also serves as the supreme commander of the armed forces. This termination order was issued in mid-September and has been made public following the President’s approval.
