Soldier In Website Expose On Army ’Sahayaks’ Found Hanging

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Mar 03, 2017:  A 33-year-old soldier who was part of a recent expose by a website on the system of the British-era "sahayak" or Buddy system in the army was found hanging in the barracks on Thursday. Roy Mathew, gunner in the Deolali Cantonment in Maharashtra, had been absent without leave since last Saturday.

 

His body was found in a decomposed state in an unused barracks. The police say a post-mortem could establish whether it was a suicide or murder.

The Army has ordered a court of inquiry.

Army sources have denied reports that he was questioned after the video, which showed soldiers attached to senior officers for "buddy duties" walking their dogs or taking their children to school.

They say after the website’s sting operation emerged, the soldier could not be identified because his face was masked - but he did send a one-word SMS to an officer saying "sorry", apparently under pressure.

The sources say he then went AWOL and the police were informed.

The video has been removed from the website. The soldier reportedly contacted the site after the video of another jawan -  Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh - describing menial jobs as a sahayak became viral in January and was widely reported. Lance Naik Singh, in the video posted on YouTube, alleged that he was forced to wash clothes, polish boots and walk dogs for his seniors. He flagged his complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others in a letter.

In recent months, there have been more than one video of soldiers complaining about poor conditions and exploitation.