TIA NEWS / New Delhi
Amid reports of misuse of smartphones in the wake of some of the soldiers taking on to social media to air their personal grievances, the Indian Army has carried out surprise checks in many of its sensitive establishments and seized a large number of smartphones which were being unauthorisedly used by them.
The surprise checks in the military establishments, including the Army Headquarters here, resulted in confiscation of about 100 smartphones, sources said, adding that there was nothing new in the exercise which they termed as an ongoing process.
The move assumes significance as it comes days after Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat warned that jawans who take to social media to express their complaints, could be punished as their act lowered the morale of those guarding the frontiers of the country.
However, Gen Rawat has already made it clear that there was no move to ban use of smartphone in the Army.
In a related development, the Army recently issued fresh circulars to all its ranks reminding the men in uniform the guidelines and policy on use of social media.