Around 400 tradesmen recruited into the Border Security Force (BSF) through the Prime Minister's Rozgar Mela initiative in 2024 have been dismissed from service after their skill certificates were found to be fraudulent — documents that the affected personnel say were unknowingly obtained from cyber fraudsters. Veterans and paramilitary welfare groups are now demanding their reinstatement, warning of a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from 9 October if the government fails to act.

How the Fraud Unfolded

The tradesmen, recruited for lower-rank positions including cooks, water carriers, and waiters, cleared written examinations, physical tests, and document verification before being posted across various BSF battalions. They served for nearly two years — with some reportedly receiving commendations for their work — before authorities detected irregularities in their skill certificates.

According to the affected personnel, they were deceived by fraudulent institutes that advertised certificate programmes on YouTube. Deepak, a resident of Delhi posted with the 155th Battalion in Ferozepur, Punjab, said he came across one such institute through the platform. 'We have been victims of cyber fraud. We are facing immense difficulties. My elder sister's wedding has been put on hold. This job meant a great deal to us; we had worked very hard to secure it,' he said. Deepak added that while legal action was reportedly taken against the fraudsters, those individuals were released after a few days and are allegedly continuing to operate their YouTube channel.

Veterans and Welfare Groups Rally Behind Dismissed Personnel

The Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Association held a press conference at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, calling on the government to reinstate all dismissed personnel. The organisation argued that the recruits were themselves victims of fraud and should not bear the consequences of a system-level failure in document verification.

Ranbir Singh, General Secretary of the Association, said, 'In reality, the fault does not lie with the young recruits, but with those who issued the certificates; the recruits themselves have been victims of fraud.' HR Singh, President of the Association, described the situation as 'highly peculiar', noting that dismissing around 400 people over technical discrepancies — after they had served for two years, passed all screening stages, and in some cases received performance awards — warranted a humanitarian review. He also flagged that many of the dismissed personnel are now ineligible for alternative government employment due to age-limit constraints.

Retired BSF officer Gajendra Singh Chaudhary also lent his support, stating that the grounds cited for the dismissals were 'unfair and unsound'.

The Human Cost

For the dismissed tradesmen, the fallout extends beyond unemployment. Many come from economically vulnerable backgrounds and had relied on their BSF postings as a primary source of livelihood. With Diwali approaching, the Association made a pointed appeal, urging the government to reinstate the personnel so that '400 families can also celebrate the festival'. Deepak's situation is emblematic: he is now in financial crisis and has had to defer plans for his elder sister's wedding.

What Happens Next

The affected tradesmen and the Association have set a deadline for government response. If no action is taken, they plan to launch a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar beginning 9 October. The case is also expected to draw attention to broader vulnerabilities in the government's recruitment verification pipeline, particularly as online fraud targeting job aspirants through social media continues to grow. Whether the BSF and the Centre will review the dismissals on humanitarian or procedural grounds remains to be seen.