Counterview Desk
Human rights defender Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), in a representation to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, recalling a complaint he had made to NHRC about the killing of a landless farmer, Akbar Ali, about four years ago, has regretted that “no justice has been extended to the family members of the deceased.” Despite NHRC directions to the authorities, Roy said, influential persons in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, “are regularly intimidating the family to withdraw the case”, the wife of the deceased with a five-year daughter is “living a life under abject poverty”, and the family has “not receive the prescribed compensation amount” set for the death of the farmer worker.
Text:
Here I want to draw your attention over a complaint by me and which was duly registered in your commission vide NHRC Case No. 1817/25/13/2019 - PF. The complaint was on an incident of brutal killing of a poor, landless, marginalized Muslim youth namely Akbar Ali, aged about 27 belonging from Other Backward Class community of Krishnanagar village under Raninagar Police Station area of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, by the Border Security Force personnel attached with 117 number Battalion of Kaharpara Border Out Post on 31.07.2019.The victim succumbed to the injuries from severe torture reportedly inflicted by seven to eight BSF personnel under the leadership of the then Company Commander B.G.Setty who were on duty at the time of incident. Just after the killing, local people gheraoed Raninagar police station and after assurance of justice from BDO- Raninagar II Block, Officer in Charge of Raninagar PS and Panchayet members, the gherao was lifted (paper cutting enclosed).
The Commission on their part disposed of the case on 23.12.2019 with a direction to the Secretary, Government of India, North Block New Delhi, where the direction mentioned, “The Complaints be transmitted to the concerned authority for such action as deemed appropriate. The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within 8 weeks associating the complainant/ victim and to inform them of the action taken in the matter.”
But as typical for the authority of their defiance to Commission’s direction, they neither took an action nor informed the same to the victim or complainant within the mentioned time. Four long years have passed after the direction pronounced, no justice has been extended to the family members of the deceased.
Raninagar Police Station initiated a specific case vide Raninagar Police Station Case No. 359/19 dated 31.07.2019 under sections 302/34 of Indian Penal Code against the Kaharpara Company Commander at that time BG Setty and other BSF personnel but in this case too, neither the accused were booked or justice ensured for the family members till date.
In between the complainant, who is the brother of the deceased, faced regular intimidation from the accused BSF personnel, pressurizing him to withdraw the complaint against the accused BSF personnel. He informed the matter to the Superintendent of Police; Murshidabad district on 15.02.2021 but no protection measures have been taken by the police.
It has been reported that the influential persons from the area are regularly intimidating the family to withdraw the case. The wife of the deceased with a 5-year daughter living a life under abject poverty due to the death of the only earning person of the family. The family did not even receive the prescribed compensation amount set for the death of a farmer and for his/ her funeral.
- Financial compensation must be made to the family members
- Commission must direct the associated criminal justice administrator to expedite the proceedings of Raninagar PS Case 350/19
- Protection of the family members and witnesses must be guaranteed
- Departmental action must be initiated against the involved BSF personnel.
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