Skip to main content

Bangladeshi dacoits loot villagers' cattle, yet BSF 'doesn't guard' Ichamati river border

Counterview Desk 
Bringing to light the case of one Basudeb Adhikari, who earns livelihood by cattle rearing and working as agricultural labour, a senior human rights activist has pointed towards how in the middle of a September night, Bangladeshi miscreants illegally trespassed into his house, situated near Indo-Bangladesh borders, broke the lock in the gate of the cowshed and stole his cow.
Stating that such incidents are not uncommon, Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), Hooghly, in a representation to the chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said, the village where this person lives, Pipli, is next to the river Ichamati, which is the international border between two countries.
There is no fencing in this area, he said, regretting, here, at the International Border Pillar (IBP) Border Security Force personnel are never posted. This leads to the villagers experiencing severe harassment from hooligans from Bangladesh. Often Bangladeshi miscreants illegally enter the mainland of India and ransack the property of the residents of the said village.
Despite several complaints, the authorities have remained indifferent, he added.

Text:

I am writing this to inform you regarding the incidents of harassment upon one villager of Pipli under Ramnagar Gram Panchayat, Gaighata Block and Police Station in the district of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal by the hooligans from Bangladesh and the Border Security Force personnel attached with Pipli Border Out Post under Tetulberia Head Border Out Post, ‘E’ Company, 158 Battalion and the local administration do not take any steps to inhibit the miscreants.
This village of Pipli is located near the Indo-Bangladesh border. Here river Ichamati is the international border between two countries. There is no fencing in this area. The Central Public Works Department never constructed any fencing beside the Indo-Bangladesh Border Road as there are locality, schools and markets on both sides of the IBB road. Present IBB road is actually the village road previously maintained by the local gram panchayat.
The people of the border are devoid of their basic rights and are subjected to immense torture, harassment and restrictions mostly enacted by the Border Security Force personnel, who are supposed to be posted at the international borders with intentions to protect the Indian citizenry. However, on the contrary, incidents of victimizing Indian citizens are being witnessed at large by the BSF. In the bordering villages of Pipli, Tetulberia and Garjala Border Security Force personnel never posted themselves at the International Border Pillar (IBP). They placed themselves very far from the actual border. In the village of Pipli Border Security Force personnel posted 3 kilometers inside from the International Border Pillar (IBP). As the BSF is not posted at the International Border Pillar, the acres of Indian land are being unprotected. The villagers of Pipli experience severe harassment from hooligans from Bangladesh. Often Bangladeshi miscreants illegally enter the mainland of India and ransack the property of the residents of the said village.
Mr. Basudeb Adhikari resides in the village of Pipli. Distance between the International Border Pillar (IBP) and his residence is about 600 to 700 meter. No BSF present in this area for security purposes. BSF personnel guard the border, placing themselves by the side of Tetulberia and Sashadanga Baor (Big water body) which is 3 to 4 kilometer distance from the International Border Pillar (IBP).
Villagers demanded that Border Security Force personnel should be guarding at the international border by placing themselves in the bank of river Ichamati. If BSF people guard the river bank of Ichamati, no Bangladeshi miscreants can enter the mainland of India.
Mr. Basudeb Adhikari is a poor man. He has no agricultural land. He earns livelihood by cattle rearing and working as agricultural labour. He has one cow which produces 7-to-8-liter milk regularly. On 06.09.2022 in the middle of the night Bangladeshi miscreants illegally trespassed into the house of Mr. Basudeb Adhikari. They broke the lock in the gate of the cowshed and stole the cow. On 07.09.2022 in the morning when Mr. Basudeb discovered the incident, he immediately went to the Tetulberia Border Out Post and lodged one verbal complaint before the Company Commandant of Tetulberia Border Out Post. Company Commandant told him to lodge one written complaint before the concerned police station and then provided him with that complaint copy.
On the same day he lodged one written complaint to the Sutia Police Out Post which is under the Gaighata Police Station. They received the written complaint of the victim but did not register the complaint as a First Information Report. Police personnel of Sutia Police Out Post just put the incident in the General Diary book vide GDE no. 515 dated 07.09.2022. This violates section 154 of the Codeof Criminal Procedure and the apex court judgment in Lalita Kumari vs. State of U.P. & others (AIR 214SC187) which makes it mandatory for them to lodge a FIR in cases of cognizable offences. Mr. Basudeb again went to the Tetulberia Border Out Post and submitted the copy of the written complaint which was received by the Sutia Police Out Post. After more than one month, the concerned authority did not take any action in this respect. On 23.09.2022 the victim again submitted one written application to the Sub Divisional Officer, Bangaon and informed him the whole incident but till date the local and district administration is silent over the matter.
The house of the victim is located inside the Indian territory. There is no fencing on the border in the area
As the BSF is not posted beside the bank of river Ichamati as river Ichamati is the International Border between India and Bangladesh, therefore, a huge area of land is being unprotected. Bangladeshi people are taking advantage of this. They illegally entered the mainland of India and committed theft from the house of the Indian people but the Border Security Force would not take any steps to handle the situation.
The house of the victim is located inside the Indian territory. There is no fencing on the border in this village. BSF personnel are not posted at the border; they are posted well inside the Indian Territory. Bangladeshi miscreants came into the Indian Territory and entered the house of the victim and stole the cows from the cowshed and they managed to escape. The incident raises several questions on the safety and security of the Indian citizens residing along the border. Our concern is:
  • How can the miscreants from the neighboring country enter Indian Territory and steal the property of Indian citizen?
  • Why was BSF not posted at the international border to contain intruders from entering Indian Territory?
  • Why was BSF not able to protect the integrity of the international border?
  • Why was the concerned police authority failed to register the case after getting information that a cognizable offence happened?
  • Who is responsible for the safety and security of the Indian citizens residing at the border villages?
  • Why did SDO, Bangaon, not take any action based on the complaint of the victim? Is his only duty to issue the order of section 144 of the Cr.P.C in the bordering areas under his jurisdiction after hearing only the BSF people?
The incident attracts section 378 of the Indian Penal Code. ‘Life’ in Article 21 of the Constitution is not merely the physical act of breathing. It is much wider, including the right to live with human dignity and the right to livelihood. The cow which was stolen by Bangladeshi miscreants is the only source of livelihood of the victim. This also violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The incident and the subsequent action of the BSF attract Article 5 and 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which the Government of India did ratify. Non actions by the BSF and the administration also violate the Goal numbers 1, 8 and 16 of Sustainable Development Goal earmarked by the United Nations and the government of India is a party and has agreement in these international instruments.
Under the circumstances, I would request the Commission to look into the matter and take necessary actions in order to resolve the issue. I request your urgent intervention in this matter:
  • BSF should guard the actual borders and not be stationed inside villages.
  •  Immediately take proper action to trace the cows of the victim which was stolen by Bangladeshi miscreants.
  • BSF should protect the safety and security of citizens of India from intruders.
  • Punitive actions should be taken against the negligent BSF personnel.
  • Strict action must be taken against the concerned police officials who after knowing the fact that a cognizable crime happened failed to register a case.
  • Security and safety of the villagers must be ensured.
  • Immediately grant some financial assistance to the victim to run his family.

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING

The silencing of conscience: Ideological attacks on India’s judiciary and free thought

By Sunil Kumar*  “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.
Post a Comment
»

'Violation of Apex Court order': Delhi authorities blamed for dog-bite incidents at JLN Stadium

By A Representative   People for Animals (PFA), led by Ms. Ambika Shukla, has held the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) responsible for the recent dog-bite incidents at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, accusing it of violating Supreme Court directions regarding community dogs. The organisation’s on-ground fact-finding mission met stadium authorities and the two affected coaches to verify details surrounding the incidents, both of which occurred on October 3.
Post a Comment
»

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...
Post a Comment
»

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu.  He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat
1 comment
»

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...
Post a Comment
»

Citizens’ group to recall Justice Chagla’s alarm as India faces ‘undeclared' Emergency

By A Representative  In a move likely to raise eyebrows among the powers-that-be, a voluntary organisation founded during the “dark days” of the Indira Gandhi -imposed Emergency has announced that it will hold a public conference in Ahmedabad to highlight what its office-bearers call today’s “undeclared Emergency.”
Post a Comment
»

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...
Post a Comment
»

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...
Post a Comment
»

From seed to soil: How transnational control is endangering food sovereignty

By Bharat Dogra  In recent decades, the world has witnessed a steady erosion of plant diversity in many countries, particularly those in the Global South that were once richly endowed with natural plant wealth. Much of this diversity has been removed from its original ecological and cultural contexts and transferred into gene banks concentrated in developed nations. While conservation of genetic resources is important, the problem arises when access to these collections becomes unequal, particularly when they fall under the control of transnational corporations.
Post a Comment
»