Custodial torture of poor villagers off Bangladesh border: Complaint to NHRC

Aijul Haque

By Our Representative
Based in Hooghly, civil rights leader Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and national convenor, Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), in a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, has brought to light yet another incident of what he called “brutal physical torture upon three villagers of different bordering villages in the district of Cooch Behar.”
This is the second letter Roy has shot within weeks. The first letter shot to the NHRC chairperson last month, strongly objected to the manner in which the Border Security Force (BSF) , the police and the judiciary in West Bengal have “treated” a 35 years old Bangladeshi woman victim of human trafficking, who was subjected to sexual exploitation for 15 long years, has been declared guilty of violating the Foreigners Act, violating all human rights norms.
In the latest letter, claiming that the BSF personnel attached with the Changrabanda Border Outpost, 148 Battalion, “illegally apprehended them and taken to their custody and afterwards tortured heavily which caused their physical injury”, Roy said, “BSF personnel chased some smugglers but when they failed to catch those smugglers, they illegally apprehended three innocent villagers.”
Stating that these villagers were “working in the agriculture field”, Roy said, they were “brutally tortured” and then released “after taking their signature by force in white blank paper.” He added, “Due to brutal torture Ainul Haque was admitted to the Mekhliganj Sub Divisional Hospital and Sanjib Biswas received primary treatment from the emergency ward of the hospital.”
Pointing out that on June 6, 2021 Rumi Begum, wife of Aijul Haque, one of the victims in this case lodged written complaint to the Officer in Charge of the Mekhliganj Police Station, received by the duty officer, Roy regretted, “No case was registered on the basis of the written complaint.”

Roy said, the episode suggests violation of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and apex court guidelines in the case of Lalita Kumari vs State of Uttar Pradesh [WP (Crl.) 68 of 2008] “which clearly states that registration of First Information Report is mandatory under section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure if the information discloses commission of a cognizable offence.”
Giving full details of the victims, Roy further said, “The act of the BSF personnel violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and section 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights and Goal number 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals and in both these international instruments; the government of India is a party.”
Roy added, “During the time of check up the doctor did not mention the clinical findings, cause of ailment, age of ailment, notes after clinical examination and therefore it violates the guidelines set by the Indian Medical Association and Tokyo Declaration by the World Medical Association adhered by India.
Seek urgent NHRC intervention, Roy insisted, the case must be acknowledged and registered in the commission, the whole matter should be enquired into by an independent inquiring agency, there should be immediately registration of the written complaint of the victim’s wife as FIR, proper investigation and arrest of perpetrators should be carried out, and concerned police authorities must be directed to take immediate action for action against the perpetrator BSF personnel.

Comments

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman* Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas* In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023.

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah* The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.

British companies export 'deadly' asbestos to India, other countries from offshore offices

Inside a UK asbestos factory in 1994 before the mineral was banned By Rajiv Shah “The Sunday Times”, which forms part of the powerful British daily, “The Times”, has raised the alarm that though the “deadly” asbestos is banned in Britain, companies registered in United Kingdom, and operating from other countries, “are involved in shipping it to developing nations”, especially India. India, Brazil, Russia and China account for almost 80% of the asbestos consumed globally every year, it adds.

Search This Blog