First, there is very little justification and editorial sense in carrying out a ‘sting’ operation on unsuspecting jawans. The point isn’t that The Quint picked its subject hastily. Especially when it comes to institutions whose workings are largely inaccessible to the public, journalistic investigations are important and necessary. However, undercover journalism should ideally be the last resort in any story. While the ethics of sting journalism are hotly debated, there’s no ambiguity on its fundamental guiding principle: a sting should expose the wrongdoer, not the victims of an alleged wrongdoing. If the idea was to report on the abuse of the sahayak system in the Army, The Quint could have done so with off-the-record conversations with jawans after assuring them of their privacy and earning their trust. This also points at the insensitivity with which the media often treats those who don’t enjoy social importance and are consequently most vulnerable. Put bluntly, a sahayak is easier to ‘sting’ than a General or Colonel.