NEW DELHI, Dec 3: Known as the world’s highest battlefield, the disputed Siachen glacier has become a scourge for the Indian army even in peacetime as news surfaced on Monday that at least three officers and several civilians were being investigated for large scale pilferage of material meant for the troops.

The army said it had initiated “administrative action” against three officers and three junior commissioned officers for alleged pilferage of special rations meant for soldiers serving in glacier where Indian and Pakistan troops are locked in a non-combative standoff, after years of shelling each other’s posts.

This information was given by Defence Minister A. K. Antony in the Lok Sabha while replying to written questions.

Mr Antony said the Jammu and Kashmir police carried out raids and recovered certain items of special rations from Chumathang, Tangtse, Hunder, Khalsar, Sasoma and Nubra of Ladakh district.

As many as 11 FIRs were lodged with the police leading to arrest of 31 civilians, he said. The Army ordered two Court of Inquiries to investigate into the matter.

The police have so far arrested 31 people, including shopkeepers, in various areas in northern Kashmir. A few of them have made confessional statements before magistrates, during which they named senior army officers who allegedly supplied the materials to them, reports said.

Armed with the confessional statements, police approached the Leh-based 14 Corps for questioning certain officers.

What surprised the police was the seizure of high quality parachutes, trousers and jackets meant for use at high altitudes.

The police also seized army boots in the Nubra Valley, near the Siachen glacier, which were being sold to trekkers visiting the area.

Siachen has been in the news for the army’s valour where more men die of frostbite than due to military action. But it became an embarrassment when a scam emerged a couple of years ago about Indian officers being involved in make believe encounters with Pakistani troops in order to win gallantry awards.