Rural families 'being harassed' due to restrictions on movement off Indo-Bangla border

By Kirity Roy*

Villagers in the border locality of Seuti-II, Shukarukuti Gram Panchayat in the Cooch Behar district, are facing relentless harassment due to restrictions on the opening of a critical fencing gate. Seuti-II, located near the Indo-Bangladesh border, is home to 43 families, comprising 83 minority Muslim individuals who reside within this fenced area.

These families have lived on their ancestral land for generations and rely on Gate No. 17, managed by the Kushahat B.O.P-C-Company 90 Bn BSF, for essential daily activities. Agriculture and labor are the primary sources of livelihood for the residents of Seuti-II, who cultivate various vegetables on their 380 bighas of agricultural land.

However, the limitations imposed by the fencing gate severely impact their farming practices, economic well-being, and overall quality of life. The restricted access to their homes, fields, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and markets creates significant challenges. According to regulations established by the Government of India's Ministry of Home Affairs, Gate No. 17 was initially permitted to remain open throughout the day. However, over the years, the Border Security Force (BSF) has gradually reduced the opening hours.

Currently, the gate is accessible only three times a day for one hour (from 7 am to 8 am, 11 am to 12 pm, and 4 pm to 5 pm). Additionally, villagers must wait 40 to 50 minutes for their names to be recorded upon entry, often preventing them from utilizing the limited time available.

This situation has led to numerous unfortunate incidents, including adverse effects on children's education, which contributes to school dropouts. Moreover, seriously ill individuals and pregnant women face difficulties reaching healthcare facilities outside the predetermined times.

The confinement these residents experience not only hinders their access to essential services but also distances them from other Indian citizens. Consequently, the socio-economic conditions of these families continue to deteriorate. Gate No. 17 serves as their vital link to the farmers' market via the CPWD road; without it, they are forced to take a longer detour, adding 4 to 5 kilometers to their journey.

On July 26, 2024, the affected families formally appealed to the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar and the Sub-Divisional Officer of Dinhata regarding their dire situation. However, no action has been taken by the authorities. They also communicated their grievances to the BSF Headquarters in Assam on July 31, 2024.

On August 2, 2024, four village members, including Rafik Miyan, were summoned by the BSF for questioning but were reportedly threatened by the Company Commander, who demanded that they withdraw their complaints or face potential criminal charges.

The residents of Seuti-II not only grapple with everyday challenges impacting their livelihoods but also contend with violations of Articles 21 and 19 of the Indian Constitution, which protect the right to life and personal liberty as well as the freedom of movement for all citizens.

Some of the heads of families residing in Seuti-II include Kachim Ali, son of Katiya; Majibar Rahaman, son of Matiya; Hossain Ali Sk., son of Matiya; Rekha Bibi, daughter of Hachim Ali; Jachimuddin Sk., son of Kaltu Md.; Fajle Hoque, son of Md. Ali; Ejaul Hoque, son of Hachim Ali; Hachim Ali, son of Matiya Sk.; Belal Hossain, son of Nur Islam; Jaharul Hoque, son of Jasmat Sk.; and Samsul Hoque, son of Monsur Ali.

The villagers are still awaiting a resolution to their issues, which remain largely ignored. There is an urgent need for intervention, with the following actions required:

Open Gate No. 17 for the entire day (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to facilitate access for villagers.
Ensure that if land is needed for BSF purposes, it must be legally acquired by the government from the respective landowners.
Avoid threatening lawful citizens regarding their grievances.
Provide assistance to villagers in relation to their livelihood and economic situations.
Compensate and rehabilitate all affected individuals to reintegrate them into society.

The National Human Rights Commission should investigate these matters and implement legal measures to support the sustainable livelihoods of the villagers.

---

*Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM). This article is based on the author's representation to the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission

Comments

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Ahmedabad's Sabarmati riverfront under scrutiny after Subhash Bridge damage

By Rosamma Thomas* Large cracks have appeared on Subhash Bridge across the Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, close to the Gandhi Ashram . Built in 1973, this bridge, named after Subhash Chandra Bose , connects the eastern and western parts of the city and is located close to major commercial areas. The four-lane bridge has sidewalks for pedestrians, and is vital for access to Ashram Road , Ellis Bridge , Gandhinagar and the Sabarmati Railway Station .

Farewell to Robin Smith, England’s Lionhearted Warrior Against Pace

By Harsh Thakor* Robin Smith, who has died at the age of 62, was among the most adept and convincing players of fast bowling during an era when English cricket was in decline and pace bowling was at its most lethal. Unwavering against the tormenting West Indies pace attack or the relentless Australians, Smith epitomised courage and stroke-making prowess. His trademark shot, an immensely powerful square cut, made him a scourge of opponents. Wearing a blue England helmet without a visor or grille, he relished pulling, hooking and cutting the quicks.

No action yet on complaint over assault on lawyer during Tirunelveli public hearing

By A Representative A day after a detailed complaint was filed seeking disciplinary action against ten lawyers in Tirunelveli for allegedly assaulting human rights lawyer Dr. V. Suresh, no action has yet been taken by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

Latur’s quiet rebel: Dr Suryanarayan Ransubhe and his war on Manuvad

By Ravi Ranjan* In an India still fractured by caste, religion, and language, where narrow loyalties repeatedly threaten to tear the nation apart, Rammanohar Lohia once observed that the true leader of the bahujans is one under whose banner even non-bahujans feel proud to march. The remark applies far beyond politics. In the literary-cultural and social spheres as well, only a person armed with unflinching historical consciousness and the moral courage to refuse every form of personality worship—including worship of oneself—can hope to touch the weak pulse of the age and speak its bitter truths without fear or favour.

Differences in 2002 and 2025 SIR revision procedures spark alarm in Gujarat

By A Representative Civil rights groups and electoral reform activists have raised serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat and 11 other states, alleging that the newly enforced requirements could lead to large-scale deletion of legitimate voters, particularly those unable to furnish documentation linking them to the 2002 electoral list.

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

From crime to verdict: The 27-year journey that 'rewarded' the destroyers of Babri Masjid

By Shamsul Islam Thirty-three years ago, on December 6, 1992, a 16th-century mosque was reduced to rubble by a frenzied mob orchestrated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political fronts. The demolition was not a spontaneous outburst of Hindu sentiment; it was the meticulously planned culmination of a hate campaign that branded Indian Muslims as “Babur-ki-aulad” and the Babri Masjid as a symbol of historical humiliation.

Bangladesh alternative more vital for NE India than Kaladan project in Myanmar

By Mehjabin Bhanu* There has been a recent surge in the number of Chin refugees entering Mizoram from the adjacent nation as a result of airstrikes by the Myanmar Army on ethnic insurgents and intense fighting along the border between India and Myanmar. Uncertainty has surrounded India's Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which uses Sittwe port in Myanmar, due to the recent outbreak of hostilities along the Mizoram-Myanmar border. Construction on the road portion of the Kaladan project, which runs from Paletwa in Myanmar to Zorinpui in Mizoram, was resumed thanks to the time of relative calm during the intermittent period. However, recent unrest has increased concerns about missing the revised commissioning goal dates. The project's goal is to link northeastern states with the rest of India via an alternate route, using the Sittwe port in Myanmar. In addition to this route, India can also connect the region with the rest of India through Assam by using the Chittagon...

Search This Blog