A BSF constable, who had posted a video online complaining about poor quality food being served to the troops on icy heights along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir, has been dismissed on charge of indiscipline.
Officials said Tej Bahadur Yadav (41) was sacked by the border guarding force which held him guilty on four counts of breach of discipline.
He can appeal against the order before the Inspector General (Frontier) of the force or the Director General of the BSF within three months.
With the order taking effect, Yadav, who served the country's largest border guarding force for 20 years, having joined in 1996, will be deprived of pension.
The Border Security Force headquarters here said Yadav was dismissed from service after an inquiry and order of the Summary Security Force Court (SSFC) that functions under the BSF Act and Rules.
He is scheduled to be released later today from a BSF camp in Jammu where he was transferred pending inquiry.
The SSFC proceedings, it said, was conducted against Yadav under charges including "an act prejudicial to good order and discipline of the force in which he made false allegations on social media regarding quality of food and did not adhere to formal grievance redressal mechanism of the force".
"Neglect to obey general orders of the force in which he carried two mobile phones while on operational duty against the standard operating procedures and also posted photographs in uniform on social media in contravention of instructions.
"The individual (Yadav) was found guilty of all the charges and awarded dismissal from service," the BSF said in a statement.
"All opportunities" were extended to Yadav to present his defence but he could put forth none, a senior BSF officer said.
"Yadav has also been found guilty of uploading the said video and going on a huger strike in violation of laid down procedures and rules," he said.
The SSFC proceedings were held between April 13 and 19, following a Staff Court of Inquiry (SCoI) where statements of senior officers and colleagues of the jawan were recorded.
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.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had ordered an inquiry by the BSF brass into the complaint after the video triggered nationwide outrage.
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.
He had also alleged that troops were subjected to "cruelty" as they were served bad quality food, and at times had to go to bed empty stomach.
Yadav, who hails from Haryana's Mahendragarh district, was serving in the 29th battalion of the force.
The 2.5 lakh personnel-strong BSF is tasked with guarding the Indo-Pak International Border and the LoC under the operational command of the army.
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