BSF sacks jawan who had posted video on bad food

BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav who had posted a video online complaining about poor quality food being served to the troops on icy heights along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, has been dismissed on charge of indiscipline.

A spokesman for the Border Security Force said constable Yadav "was found guilty of all the charges and awarded dismissal from service."

The order comes five months after he posted the video on Facebook, triggering public outcry over the working conditions of troops guarding the country's frontiers.

The BSF had conducted a Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) where Yadav was tried on two counts of making "false allegations" on social media regarding the quality of food, and carrying two mobile phones while on operational duty, the spokesman said.

He said making "false allegations" about the quality of food was an act "prejudicial to good order and discipline" of the force, and that he did not adhere to formal grievance redressal mechanism available.

The spokesman alleged that constable Yadav did not obey a general order of the force and carried two mobile phones while on operational duty which was against the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Yadav also posted photographs in uniform on social media in contravention of instructions, he said.

The SSFC began its proceedings from April 13 during which "all opportunities" were given to Yadav to defend himself, the spokesman said, adding he can appeal against the punishment to an appellate authority within three months.

Yadav, clad in battle fatigues and carrying his service rifle, had in January this year posted a video on Facebook, claiming poor quality food like watery 'dal' and burnt 'chapatis' were being served to the troops serving across the inhospitable terrain.

While the government procures essentials for the soldiers, the higher-ups "sell them off" in an "illegal" manner in the market making the lower level personnel in the force suffer, he had alleged.

The jawan, who was part of a BSF unit posted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, had also said in the video that a watery soup-like dal, which he claimed had only turmeric and salt, and a burnt chapati were served to them.

Yadav was serving in the 29th battalion of the force and had been transferred to a BSF battalion in Jammu during the inquiry.