New Delhi: Calling it a "blot" on the name of his force, Army chief General N C Vij on October 9 condemned the rape of a college girl by four soldiers of the Presidential Guards on October 6 and promised "most stern action" against them once legal process gets underway.

Taking a serious view of the incident, he told reporters on the sidelines of a National Cadet Corps (NCC) function in New Delhi that Army action would have been severe if the crime had been committed in an Army area.

"Then we could have invoked the Army Act. But in the present circumstances as the area of the crime is a civilian area, we have to await the legal process to get underway," he said.

He said the accused were immediately handed over to police after the incident came to light so that they could be punished.

General Vij's strong feelings were also present at the function.

Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta, who presided over the annual conference of NCC, said such "shameful" incidents, whether they happen in the capital or elsewhere, had to be condemned and stern action taken under law.

PTI