July 17, 2008	Thursday	Rajab 13, 1429

NEW DELHI: The Indian government on Wednesday ordered an investigation into a female army officer’s claims she was sexually harassed by three superiors, despite strenuous denials from the military.

In a written complaint earlier this week, Captain Poonam Kaur accused three male bosses of cornering her in her quarters and making sexual advances. The military rejected Kaur’s allegations as “baseless” and said she had made the story up.

“Her mental weakness has been recorded in her profile,” the army said in a statement.

Military spokesman Sitanshu Kar said that an investigation was being launched despite the army’s rejection of the allegations.

“Defence Minister A.K. Antony today ordered an official inquiry into the allegations of Captain Poonam Kaur,” Kar said.

The incident is alleged to have happened in the northern Indian garrison of Kalka, where Kaur is deployed in an army supply and transport unit.

The inquiry is the latest in a series of similar cases within the ranks of India’s million-strong defence force, which is facing a shortage of 11,000 commanders, mainly due to low wages and worsening work conditions.—AFP