Skip to main content

'Human rights violation': Local farmer 'severely torture' by BSF personnel

By Kirity Roy* 
An alarming incident has emerged from Panchberia, a village located along the Indo-Bangladesh border within the Bagdah police station jurisdiction of North 24 Parganas district. Hajrat Sheikh, a local farmer and the clerk (Mohurer) of the Bagdah Block Land and Land Reforms Office, was reportedly subjected to severe torture by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel. This incident raises significant concerns, violating Articles 21, 19, and 22 of the Indian Constitution. 
On the morning of August 20, 2024,  visited his agricultural land, which is situated behind barbed wire fencing near the Panchberia BSF camp. During this visit, he was confronted by the Panchberia Post Commander, who, according to witnesses, displayed erratic behavior attributed to intoxication while on duty. The BSF accused Hajrat of facilitating illegal crossings between India and Bangladesh through his land. 
Following this accusation, Hajrat was subjected to verbal abuse and threats before being compelled to enter the camp, where he endured physical assaults. Reports indicate he was beaten with batons, punched in the eyes and ears—resulting in a perforated eardrum and severe bruising. The assault escalated to him being thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly, leading to broken ribs and near asphyxiation. 
After being released from custody, Hajrat sought immediate medical attention at Bagda hospital, subsequently consulting an ENT specialist for his ear injury and an orthopedic doctor for his rib injuries. The following day, on August 22, 2024, Hajrat reported a troubling incident where civic police from Bagdah police station forcibly entered his home around 2 a.m., exhibiting aggressive behavior and attempting to apprehend him. 
Despite his pleas due to his medical condition, the officers departed without further action. Notably, no female officers accompanied the four male constables during this midnight intrusion, violating established protocols, especially given Hajrat's wife was also present at the residence. 
The Bagdah police have alleged that Hajrat is involved in serious offenses related to illegal border crossings, believing their actions are justified. Hajrat was summoned for interrogation on August 23, 2024, and subsequently lodged formal complaints with the Superintendant of Police (S.P.) for the Bongaon District, as well as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (S.D.P.O.) and the Officer in Charge (O.C.) of Bagdah Police Station, expressing fears for his safety and the possibility of false charges. 
Panchayat officials support BSF actions. Their complicity extends to enforcing curfews on a road vital for local commerce 
However, no concrete action appears to have been taken by these authorities. Moreover, the police provided Hajrat with a document indicating the registration of a case (Case No. 824, dated September 2, 2024), yet no details were shared regarding the nature of the complaint or the individuals involved. Notably, Hajrat's written complaint was sent to the relevant officials on August 23—weeks prior to the registration date cited by the police. 
Further investigation by our fact-finding team revealed that Hajrat continues to face threats from BSF personnel to retract his complaints. Local governance figures, including the Boyra Gram Panchayat Pradhan and the Up-Pradhan reportedly support the BSF’s actions and remain silent on the matter. This complicity extends to enforcing curfews on the IBBR road—vital for local commerce—only intensifying the discontent among villagers. 
This egregious violation of human rights underscores the need for urgent accountability within the security forces. 
To this end, we call upon the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to intervene promptly with the following recommendations: 
- A comprehensive investigation into the incident by the NHRC's investigative wing. 
- Immediate legal action against the BSF personnel and Bagdah police officers involved. 
- A cessation of the collusion between Gram Panchayat members and the BSF. 
- Protection for Hajrat Sheikh until proven guilty of any accusations.
--- 
*Secretary Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM). This report is based on the author's submission to the NHRC

Comments

Post a Comment

NOTE: Hateful, abusive comments won't be published. -- Editor

TRENDING

The making of a self-made woman: How eighty sheep changed everything for Kalawati Ninama

By Vikas Meshram*  About forty-two kilometres from Rajasthan's Banswara district, in the tribal heartland of Ghatol block, lies the small village of Ubapana. This is where Kalawati Ninama, her husband Dhulji, and their four children make their home. Their days unfold much like those of their neighbours—bustling mornings, long hours of farm labour through the afternoon, and evenings spent tending livestock. For this family, farming and livestock were once simply a means of putting food on the table. Today, they have become the sturdy foundation of something far greater: genuine self-sufficiency.
Post a Comment
»

Ahmedabad world’s least climate resilient major city: AlphaGeo study

By Rajiv Shah  A new study has ranked Ahmedabad as the least climate-resilient major city in the world , highlighting a dangerous gap between the city’s extreme physical vulnerability to climate hazards and its capacity to adapt. Cited by The New York Times , the analysis, conducted by geospatial artificial intelligence firm AlphaGeo , places the Indian city at the top of a list of global urban centres most exposed to climate risk.
Post a Comment
»

India has spent billions on skilling. Where are the jobs?

By Vikas Gupta   India loves the photograph of a certificate ceremony. A minister on a stage. A banner bearing the word “skill.” Young people holding folders that promise a future. It is a reassuring image because it tells us the problem has a manageable answer: train the young, make them job-ready, and work will follow.
Post a Comment
»