With a number of security personnel, including one from the army, raising grievances through social media, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Sunday warned soldiers that such acts could lead to punishment.
Addressing the Army Day function, General Rawat said: "A few colleagues are using social media to share their problems. It affects the morale of the jawans and thereby the army.
"A few of our friends have taken to social media to speak about their complaints. This affects the soldiers deployed at the borders...
"You can be held guilty of doing a crime for what you have done and invite punishment," he warned.
The General went on: "We have the capacity to tackle cyber attacks, yet, we have to be careful against the enemy elements on social media, and also ask our families to be alert about it."
On Friday, the Army chief announced a new grievance redressal system under which complaints would reach him directly while the identity of the complainant would be kept a secret.
The comments come after a Lance Naik posted a video on social media criticising the use of soldiers as 'sahayaks' of the officers and alleged "jawans are being exploited in the Army by officers".
However, Gen Rawat made it clear that 'sahayak' or 'buddy' system is very important part of the army but he is in talks with the government to look at the possibility of doing it away in peace stations.
He said that army personnel, rather than indirectly communicating their grievances, should use the "excellent" grievances redressal system existing in the force.
Gen Rawat described social media as a "two-sided" weapon which can be used favourably but can also be detrimental.
A trooper each from the Border Security Force and a Central Reserve Police Force had also taken to social media to air grievances related to their service conditions.
