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Army Jawan Hangs Self After Being Taped Without Knowledge And Misrepresented In Sting Video

bySusri Sahu
4th March 2017
3 minute read
Army

Media as a medium is responsible for showing a mirror to the society. However, there is a fine line between reporting the truth and disregarding law and order to trick the truth out. Not long ago, a soldier of the Indian Army was seen in a sting operation by a news website that exposed the ‘Sahayak’ or orderly system in the Army. However, after the video went viral, in an unfortunate twist of events, the soldier, Lance Naik Roy Mathew was found dead in a barrack in Deolali Cantonment, Maharashtra.

Army
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Although the video with the report, “Soldier or Servant?”, uploaded on February 23, has been taken down by the website, according to police officials, Mathew spoke about doing personal chores for his superior officer.

 

According to a report in India Today, Mathew was among the several jawans who walked dogs of their seniors, washed clothes and even took their children to school. 

Army
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Army
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However, what is shocking is, the jawan had no idea that he was being filmed by secret cameras. And was misrepresented in the ivideo. 

 

The army in return has now issued a statement stating that ‘guilt’ drove Mathew to take such a harsh step. 

 “Preliminary investigations have now revealed that the suicide may be the result of a series of events which were triggered by media personnel managing to video-graph the deceased by asking leading questions on his duty as buddy without his knowledge. It is very likely that the guilt factor of letting down his superiors or conveying false impression to an unknown individual led him to take the extreme step.
The identities of the army personnel in (video) clipping were hidden, and thereby not known to the army. Hence, there is no question of any enquiry that could have been ordered against the deceased. A complaint has been lodged with local police and an enquiry has been ordered by army authorities to investigate the circumstances leading to his death… From February 25 onwards, this individual was declared absent without leave and apprehension roll was registered with the police as per existing order, till the body was recovered from an abandoned barrack.

 

Talking to Indian Express, Mathew’s cousin, Jijju John in Kerela said that the media tricked him and that he was under severe tension.

“The media cheated hiM. His family has lost their sole breadwinner. Roy never knew that the journalist was secretly shooting him.”

 

In fact, according to Mid- Day, in his last call to his wife, before his cellphone went offline, Mathew had confessed (in Malayalam) that he is disturbed.  

“enikku ividey korachu problem unda, joleeyil prashnamayi, jolee paovum thonnunnu,” (I have some problem here. It is related to my job, I fear I may lose it).

 

Getting all the traction that it should, the matter has now reached the ceilings. Following up, Indian Express tried to reach the media house but was met with no answers. 

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Even, Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda called out the callousness committed on the part of the website. 

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Here’s the original tweet.

Is this the reward of serving one’s motherland? Death and perjury?!

Source: Indian Express

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