Jawan in viral ‘sahayak’ clip dead, Army questions role of website

New Delhi, March 3

A “sting operation” by a website is being blamed for having triggered a series of events that led to suicide by Lance Naik Roy Mathew, 33.

Posted at Devlali, near Nashik, he was found dead yesterday in an abandoned barrack at the military station which is the artillery centre of the Army. He had been missing since February 25 and was being treated as “absent without leave”. 

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Mathew’s battalion is presently on field firing practice in Rajasthan and he formed the “rear party” — some soldiers staying back at “other designated stations”.

A press note said the probe revealed the death “may be a result of the series of events triggered by media personnel managing to videograph the deceased by asking leading questions on his duties as a buddy (‘sahayak’) without his knowledge”. The video has been removed from the website.

It was “very likely”, said the ministry, that the “guilt factor of letting down his superiors or conveying false impression” pushed him over the edge. The Army has denied that Mathew was questioned after the video; as the soldier’s face was masked, so he could not be identified. But sources say he did send a one-word SMS to an officer saying “sorry” last Saturday.

The soldier's family approached the police as his phone had been switched off since February 25.  — TNS