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Updated 03 Mar, 2017 12:44am

Indian soldier who protested substandard food alleges being 'mentally tortured' by officials

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 says his cellphone was confiscated on Jan 10.

In the video, shared on The Quint, a popular mobile-first digital news platform, 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.

Tej Bahadur Yadav alleges being 'mentally tortured' by officials.─ Video courtesy The Quint

"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.

While speaking to CNN-News18, a top official in India's Ministry of Home Affairs, to which all paramilitary forces of the country report, said that had it been in his power, he would have had Yadav dismissed for continually defying standard operating procedures and posting videos on social media.

"We don't interfere in the day-to-day management of the force. That is the BSF Director General's (DG) prerogative. But if I were the DG, I would have dismissed him. You can't breach discipline repeatedly," the official added.

CNN-News18 further added that the Indian home ministry is mulling over prohibiting the use of smartphones across all paramilitary forces.

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.

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