JAMMU: By posting series of videos, highlighting the plight of foot soldiers deployed along the frontiers of mother nation a Border Security Force jawan Monday alleged that ration supplies meant for jawans were not reaching them claiming the senior administrative officers were selling the same stocks in the open markets. After posting the videos on the social networking site the BSF jawan who identified himself as Tej Bahadur Yadav, requested fellow Indians to share the video as much as possible to highlight the plight of jawans in order to draw the attention of their senior officers and the media. The BSF jawan also appealed to the Prime Minister, demanding a thorough probe into what he describes as a scandal. And disturbingly enough he is heard saying, “I may live or they (senior officers) may get me killed.”
“You may find snow in the backdrop captivating and enchanting but our situation is miserable. Neither the media is highlight our problems nor the officers or leaders (politicians) pay any heed to our grievances”, BSF jawan is heard saying in his first post. One of the videos shot by the jawan shows him standing in icy weather in a snow-carpeted area in clothes that do not look like designed to withstand the cold. But the jawan is even more bitter at the “low quality food being provided to soldiers.”
“After 10-11 hours of back-breaking duty from early morning to late in the evening, irrespective of rain, snow or storm, all a jawan gets to eat is this kind of food… How does one survive on it. The daal has only water with turmeric powder and salt… and nothing else.. no garlic or onion. For the past 10 days we are being served only this along with chapatis (which looked poorly baked),” he rued, showing his tiffin. And he asks in the same breath, “now, you tell me, can a jawan perform a 10-hour duty after having such meals?” He complains that a jawan gets only one parantha and a cup of tea in the morning without any vegetable or even pickles.
His ire appears directed at his senior officers. ” The Government provides us with all the facilities and the required supplies. But everything gets usurped by the senior officers. And a soldier gets nothing.” Even worse, he goes on to claim, “At times jawans have to sleep on empty stomach.” The video shot inside a dark and dingy kitchen, the cook is heard saying: “This is all (cooking material) I’ve….” Also, he is overheard hurling abuses on senior officers (over their purported apathetic attitude) while baking chapattis.
On being asked by the same jawan to start the gen set for electricity, the reply is not audible due to poor quality of the clip. It is learnt after the video went viral the BSF authorities ordered a formal inquiry to ascertain the facts. In a tweet BSF spokesman clarified, ” BSF is highly sensitive to the welfare of the troops. Individual aberrations , if any, are enquired in to. A senior officer has already reached the location.
BSF denies allegation
n STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Border Security Force (BSF) on late Monday night denied the allegation levelled by a BSF Soldier as false and misleading.
The statement categorically asserted that ration authorised to all inclusive Officers at LoC is of good quality and is adequate in quantity.
Being specific towards the charge made by the BSF Constable, it stated that Tej Bahadur as an individual has a difficult past. “From initial days of his career, he needed regular counseling.
Different correction mechanics have been applied for his welfare as he was habitual offender of absenteeism without permission, chronic alcoholism, misbehaving and using force with superior officers and certain other acts against good order and discipline”, it stated adding that for such reasons, he served mostly in headquarters under supervision of some dedicated superior officer. “He has been sent only ten days back to the place of deployment i.e. Adm Base on road head to facilitate support to high altitude forward locations which he shown in current selfie, on experimental basis to observe the improvements of past counseling. DIG and Commanding Officer visited him and other BSF Jawans present in strength of approximately 20 in last one week and there was no complaint from any one”, the statement said. “Leaving apart the background of individual, to enquire in transparent and fair manner into the circumstances which the individual alleged in posted videos, a DIG rank officer has reached the location to investigate the matter. The investigation will reveal the facts”, the BSF statement maintained.