NEW DELHI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- India's paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) Wednesday sacked one of its soldiers for posting complaints about the bad quality food being served to the troops on social media.
The BSF said in a statement that the soldier, Tej Bahadur Yadav, was dismissed from service after a court of inquiry found him guilty of making false charges against the organization.
"During the proceedings, it was charged that he indulged in an act prejudicial to good order and discipline of the force in which he made false allegations on social media regarding the quality of food and did not adhere to formal grievance redressal mechanism of the force," the statement said.
"It was also alleged in the court of inquiry that he neglected to obey general orders of the force in which he carried two mobile phones while on operational duty against SOP (standard operation procedure) and also posted photographs in uniform on social media," it added.
The BSF said that all opportunities were given to Yadav for his defence during the proceedings, which were held between April 13 and April 19.
Yadav, who now has the option to appeal against the order of the court of inquiry within three months, said that he would appeal in the High Court against his dismissal by the BSF.
"I will move the High Court against the termination of my service," he said.
In January, Yadav had posted on Facebook three videos alleging poor food and near starvation while the troops are on duty under tough weather conditions at the Line of Control (the de-facto border with Pakistan) in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"We only get a 'parantha' (pancake) and tea as breakfast and this is without any pickle or vegetables... we slog for 11 hours and at times we have to stand throughout the duty hours. For lunch, we get 'dal' (pulses) which only has 'haldi' (turmeric) and salt ... With roti. This is the quality of the food we get ... How can a jawan do his duty?" he said in one of the videos.
After the video went viral, the Indian Prime Minister's Office sought a detailed report and the probe was initiated by the BSF, while Yadav was transferred to the headquarters of his BSF's 29th battalion in Poonch sector in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
In March again, Yadav came out with another video on Facebook, alleging that he was targetted as he blew the whistle. "I exposed corruption in my department since the prime minister wanted to fight corruption... I appeal to all to ask the prime minister why I am being tortured," he said in the video.
