Constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, whose videos on poor food quality went viral, was court-martialed 4 years ago, says BSF

Jammu and Kashmir, Jan 10: BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, who posted a video of poor quality of food being served to the troops deployed at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, was court martialed four years ago for assaulting a superior, said a senior BSF official. However “on compassionate grounds” he was not dismissed from service. Reacting on the video, BSF IG DK Upadhyay said constable Tej Bahadur Yadav will be shifted from the Line of Control to the headquarters of 29 battalion in Poonch.
“It is a sensitive matter for us and we will probe the whole matter and take actions accordingly,” said DK Upadhyay. “I can agree that taste of the food might not be very great but have never received any complaint from jawans regarding the same. If any lapses found strict action will be taken,” Upadhyay added. Speaking on the interdisciplinary actions of the constable Tej Bahadur Yadav, the BSF IG said he was to be court-martialed in 2010, but he wasn’t dismissed considering his family.
DK Upadhyay also informed that no complains of poor food quality have been received from any soldier till now. “DIG level officers, who have visited the camp in past, have never received any complaint regarding allegations levelled in the video,” said Upadhyay. “There will also be an enquiry as to why he was carrying a mobile phone while on duty, which is against the disciplinary guidelines,” he added.
The 40 year old constable on Monday posted a video on social media stating the poor quality of food being served to the troops at the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir. “We only get a ‘paratha’ and tea as breakfast without any pickle or vegetables… For lunch, we get dal (pulses) which only has haldi (turmeric) and salt… with roti. This is the quality of the food we get… we slog for 11 hours and at times we have to stand throughout the duty hours… how can a jawan do his duty?” Yadav said in the video. However, constable Yadav in the video stated that the government provides everything and also blamed the senior officials to steal and sell the products provided for them.
After the video went viral, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has ordered an investigation into the allegations of the BSF constable. “I have seen a video regarding a BSF jawan’s plight. I have asked the HS (Home Secretary) to immediately seek a report from the BSF & take appropriate action,” he tweeted late Monday evening.