Ali came into the limelight when he defied his Commandant’s order to shave off his beard and initiated a signature campaign for highlighting jawans’ grievances, which was later sent to the President, Union Home Minister and Defence Minister. He had sought permission from his officer to grow a beard in 1996, which was granted. However, when a new Commandant ordered he should shave off his beard he refused and was court martialled in 1997 for “willful defiance”.

In 2002, the Delhi High Court set aside the court martial. AR then moved the Supreme Court but it upheld the HC order and Ali was reinstated with the beard and posted to Manipur in 2004.

In response to the representation, which was signed by 1912 jawans, the Union Government directed AR to look into the complaint. However, instead of redressing the jawans’ grievances, the AR allegedly implicated Ali on false charges of having twisted the finger of his superior by using criminal force, disobeying willful command and violation of good order and military discipline.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Ali would be transferred from 13 Assam Rifles in Ukhrul to 21 Assam Rifles in Kakching, also in Manipur, on Tuesday.