Armyman does a 'Sholay' stunt in New Delhi

High drama was witnessed near New Delhi Railway Station on Friday when an army man climbed a 200-feet mobile tower, protesting alleged harassment by his seniors.

K Muthu, who is attached with Engineers Regiment, climbed the tower at Ajmeri Gate at around 1 pm and refused to come down till late night despite appeals by police and officers of Army, a senior police official said.

Army sources claimed Muthu, who is deployed in Kota, had done the "Sholay stunt" earlier in Bengaluru also. He has been absent from his unit since July seven without sanctioned leave.

A senior Army official said Muthu demanded that the force should not deduct money from his salary for taking unauthorised leave.

A Court of Inquiry is likely to be ordered soon against him and action will be taken, sources said, adding he had sought retirement from the force.

An official said he did not speak to anyone initially but later demanded that he will come down only after speaking to Defence Minister A K Antony.

As he climbed the tower, he threw copies of some letters in which he has named his superiors.

Police and fire brigade rushed to the spot but Muthu did not talk to them.

Later in the day, some Army officials also joined police and climbed the tower and talked to Muthu but he remained adamant.

"He had not eaten anything. But now he has started drinking water. When I tried to talk to him five-six times, he refused. He said he will only talk to the Minister. We hope he will come down soon," a senior army official said, adding two policemen are standing with him on the tower.