Don’t have faith in Army, son should be tried by civil court, Major’s mother writes to Maha police

Nagpur: The mother of Major Manan Tiwari, who shot dead a JCO at the firing range in Central Ammunition Depot, Pulgaon, on May 15 has written a strongly worded letter to senior Maharashtra police officers expressing lack of faith in Army's court-martial procedure and demanded the case be handed over to civil authorities for trial under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). TOI has accessed the letter dated May 29, written to Maharashtra police brass.While the Army is yet to hand over the case to Pulgaon police, the accused Major's mother, Gayatri Tiwari, 64, alleged her son was being implicated through a forced confession in her letter addressed to special inspector general of police, Nagpur Range, superintendent of police, Wardha, and station house officer, Pulgaon police station.As per the May 15 FIR lodged by Lance Naik Chandraveer Singh Dhami, Major Tiwari allegedly fired multiple rounds from a 5.56 mm INSAS assault rifle at Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand, who was collecting empty casings. Khand died on the spot. The Army took custody of Major Tiwari and initiated its own court of inquiry.In her 5-page letter from New Delhi, Gayatri Tiwari raised questions on the circumstances of the incident. She highlighted that her son, commissioned in the Army Ordnance Corps on March 11, 2017, joined the Pulgaon unit only recently after posting orders from COD Agra. He barely spent two weeks, when he was assigned the firing drill. She also pointed to alleged critical lapses, including absence of senior officers to supervise the firing practice, which violates standard operating procedures.Gayatri Tiwari also pointed out that her son, placed in the special medical category due to serious health complications, including thalassaemia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and obesity from a 2017 injury from a commando course, was reportedly made in charge of the three-day firing practice, despite his downgraded medical profile. Gayatri questioned the upkeep of weapons, supervisory lapses, and the exact circumstances leading to the firing, suggesting the possibility of an accidental discharge due to technical defects or improper handling.Notably, Gayatri also emphasised the deceased Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand was a retired soldier re-employed on contractual basis in defence security corps, so the case does not give the Army exclusive military jurisdiction.The letter also raised allegations of pressure tactics. Gayatri claimed her son was coerced into giving a confessional statement and was subjected to harsh conditions in custody, including handcuffing, denial of basic facilities and suffering extreme heat. The woman also stated the Army did not promptly inform them about the incident and they learnt about it through secondary sources.The mother demanded preservation of CCTV footage, weapon records, ballistic evidence, and independent recording of statements from all personnel present. She has also sought protection for her son from forced confession.Talking to TOI, a senior cop said, "Wardha police will now move court with this letter to seek transfer of the case and custody of the accused."Legal experts note that while the Army generally has primacy in matters involving serving personnel, the contractual status of the victim and allegations of procedural violations could open the door for civilian court intervention. Senior police officers confirmed receipt of the letter and said a thorough assessment is underway. The defence PRO in Nagpur did not pick calls or reply to messages.