An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier who raised issue with substandard food served to him and his colleagues in videos shared on Facebook has now alleged he is being ‘mentally tortured’ by top armed forces officials, India’s CNN-News18 reported Thursday.
A constable of the BSF’s 29th battalion, Tej Bahadur Yadav was transferred to headquarters as a plumber after his videos went viral on social media.
According to CNN-News18, a BSF officer, confirming Yadav’s appearance in the video, said “it appears the video was shot in the third week of February when the jawan’s wife visited him. His mobile was taken away as it was evidence in the case.”
Yadav say his cellphone was confiscated on Jan 10.
In the video, Yadav also offers his response to accusations that he has “links with Pakistan” based on ‘information’ found in his mobile phone: he claims his phone has been “tampered with” to prove he has ties to Pakistan.
“Is this how you serve justice [to those] exposing corruption?” the BSF soldier, addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asks in the video.
“I request you [the Indian public] to ask the PM: is this how a soldier is treated for exposing the lack of quality control in food provided to us?” Bahadur adds, saying he only wanted to help the government rid the country from corruption just as Modi intended.
Yadav also claims that he had submitted an application seeking voluntary retirement, which was denied.
India’s security forces have historically had a high incidence of suicides and killings linked to long hours, poor working conditions and inadequate time off.
