Indo-Bangla border area killings 'continue': Demand to make public 'illegal actions'

By A Representative
Commenting on a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina at G20 summit, two West Bengal-based non-government organisations, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and Odhikar, have recalled that exactly a year ago, on 7 September, 2022, a joint statement released by both the Prime Ministers, had expressed satisfaction that the “number of killings along the Indo-Bangladesh border had been reduced significantly.”
“They also praised the border guards of both the countries for their efforts to stop smuggling and trafficking across the border. However, ironically a few hours after the release of that statement, Minarul Islam, a minor Bangladeshi school student was shot dead at the Dainur border of South Dinajpur district by the Indian Border Security Force”, the two NGOs point out in a media communique.
The NGO communique, signed by Kirity Roy and ASM Nasiruddin Elan representing them, respectively, said, “It has been a matter of disgrace that the number of killings perpetrated by the border guards at the Indo-Bangladesh border has drastically escalated this decade.”
Stating that the Monmohan Singh government in July 2011 too made an effort to reduce border killings by introducing non-lethal weapons to the BSF at the Indo-Bangladesh border, the NGOs regret, “However, as soon as the Modi government came into power in 2014, the decision was made to revert back to the use of lethal weapons by the BSF, which resulted in rampant killings at this border.”

The NGOs claim, “An estimated population of around 60 thousand families resides in West Bengal within the Indo-Bangladesh border and border fence. This population, despite being bona fide citizens of India, are living under constant threats, physical torture and degrading treatment from the border guards.”

Praising border guards' actions by two Prime Ministers either reflects their naivety or their political intention to subdue illegal actions

They add, “Even after the joint statement issued by both the Prime Ministers last year, we have reported many incidents of killings by the border guards, along with inhuman torture perpetrated by them, upon the residents of the Indo-Bangladesh border villages.”
“Therefore”, they insist, “Praising the border guards' actions by the Prime Ministers either reflected their naivety on the issue or their political intention to subdue the illegal actions of the forces of these two neighbouring countries.”
“Now in the light of the G-20 summit, as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits India and meets the Indian Prime Minister, we demand that the year-old statement and its implications, made by the Prime Ministers, be reconsidered”, the NGOs’ communique says.
“We demand that the exact number of killings and enforced disappearances, along the Indo-Bangladesh border should come to light and the responsible border guards be tried under law for the human rights violations and crimes committed. If the true intent of the governments of both countries is to bring peace at the border, then their actions should start with ending impunity within two friendly neighboring countries by taking punitive actions against the guilty personnel”, they add.

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan* The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Unpaid overtime, broken promises: Indian Oil workers strike in Panipat

By Rosamma Thomas Thousands of workers at the Indian Oil Corporation refinery in Panipat, Haryana, went on strike beginning February 23, 2026. They faced a police lathi charge, and the Central Industrial Security Force fired into the air to control the crowd.

Search This Blog