Jawan, who climbed onto 200-foot tower two days ago, refuses to come down

New Delhi: Vice Chief of Army staff Lieutenant General SK Singh visited the spot on Saturday, where an Army jawan has climbed a 200-ft high mobile tower on Friday alleging harassment by his seniors, and tried to persuade him to come down.

Lt Gen Singh spoke to K Muthu, who is attached with the Engineers Regiment, on phone for over 30 minutes, army officials said.

Mr Muthu, however, was not ready to believe that it was the Army Vice Chief himself talking to him and refused to climb down, they said.

The officials said they will continue its efforts to convince him.

Alleging harassment by seniors, 35-year-old Muthu had climbed the tower at Ajmeri Gate on August 17 and refused to come down despite appeals by police and Army officers. He is demanding an audience with Defence Minister AK Antony.

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Mr Muthu, who lives in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, has alleged he was transferred five times in five years.

"This is not a problem faced by me alone. I'm presenting the problems faced by many jawans in Army," he had said.

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On Friday, Mr Muthu had thrown a bunch of papers, and in one of the letters he had demanded his discharge from service due to alleged harassment by seniors. In the letter, he had also requested the commanding officer to get his salary of the last eight months cleared.