Off-duty deaths of jawans serving in the Border Security Force are now under scrutiny, while loans taken by soldiers will also be closely monitored.
According to a recent communication, units have been directed to engage with banks about loans taken by jawans. This follows a rare incident where a BSF jawan staged a “self-death” to repay a loan.
In this specific incident, the brother-in-law of constable Amit Rana – stationed in the 23rd battalion of the BSF – reported the discovery of a burnt body in the jawan’s wife’s car, and relatives assumed it was Rana.
Subsequently, based on social media reports, the adjutant of the battalion contacted the investigation officer in the Himachal Pradesh police and discovered that Rana had been arrested in Bengaluru. He was undergoing interrogation about the false news while a probe revealed that he had taken loans of at least Rs 40 lakh to Rs 45 lakh from different banks. Unable to meet the EMIs, he concocted a story of his own death to claim the insurance money.
Top officials are treating this incident with seriousness, recognising its potential harm to the force’s reputation and administration. Detailed instructions have now been issued to all force units, urging them to closely monitor loans taken by jawans.
The BSF has stressed the need to maintain a proper register with details of personnel who have taken loans from banks and insurance companies. “Proper register be maintained with details of persons who have taken loans from banks, insurance companies. All the off-duty deaths must be re-ascertained with relatives of the deceased. List of habitual bad hats be maintained in unit and regular checks be carried out on them,” it said.
The BSF added: “Troops to be regularly sensitised about financial discipline through sainik sammelan, and during visit of senior officers. Buddy system be followed in letter and spirit. Commanders at all levels must interact within troops to know their family background, financial hardships etc to know them better. Regular checks be carried out by company commanders of those personnel who have taken loan and to ascertain if they are repaying through regular instalments.”
Units have been asked to liaise with the banks about loan defaulters, if any; and strict disciplinary action to be taken in such cases.
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