Human rights group alleges BSF harassment, border security lapses in West Bengal villages

By A Representative

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a human rights organization, has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging severe human rights violations and deteriorating living conditions in the border villages of Hakimpur and Daharkandha under Swarupnagar Police Station, North 24 Parganas district. MASUM, along with the Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), claims that the Border Security Force (BSF) is responsible for the villagers' plight.

A fact-finding report conducted by MASUM details how the BSF’s actions have drastically impacted the lives of the 11,701 residents of these villages, comprised of Muslim OBC, Hindu Scheduled Caste, and other backward communities. The report alleges that the BSF has established unauthorized checkpoints deep within the villages, far from the actual Indo-Bangladesh border along the Sonai River. This, MASUM claims, has not only failed to secure the border, leading to increased cross-border crimes like smuggling and human trafficking, but has also severely restricted the villagers' movement and livelihoods.

"Instead of guarding the border, the BSF is harassing villagers," Kirity Roy, Secretary of MASUM and National Convenor of PACTI, stated in the petition to the NHRC. "This illegal relocation of BSF posts has actually left the border open to criminal activity."

The report details how the BSF's presence has crippled the local economy. Villagers, primarily dependent on agriculture, are allegedly harassed and threatened when trying to access their fields. Fishing in the Sonai River, once a major source of income, has been completely halted by the BSF, even for villagers with valid fishing permits. Small-scale industries have also suffered due to BSF interference with raw material supplies.

The impact on essential services is also highlighted. Children face harassment on their way to school, leading to increased dropout rates, while teachers are reluctant to travel to the area due to fear of BSF personnel. Access to healthcare is severely restricted, with villagers often denied passage to the local health sub-center, even in emergencies. MASUM's report alleges that this has led to preventable tragedies, particularly for pregnant women, the elderly, and the critically ill.

The report further alleges that women are particularly vulnerable, facing frequent harassment from BSF personnel. MASUM claims that the BSF's actions have created an atmosphere of fear, restricting women's movement and impacting social events like weddings.

MASUM has previously submitted numerous complaints to the NHRC, BSF, the West Bengal government, and the Union of India regarding similar incidents. The current petition includes references to incidents dated 9/7/2024; 6/8/2024; 21/8/2024; 23/8/2024; 18/9/2024 and NHRC Case No. 50/25/2024 - PF, underscoring the ongoing nature of the problem.

MASUM is urging the NHRC to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged human rights violations, dismantle the unauthorized BSF checkpoints, ensure the protection of villagers' fundamental rights, and restore access to essential services. They are demanding accountability for the BSF's actions and justice for the affected villagers.

Comments

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

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 ...

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Uttarakhand tunnel disaster: 'Question mark' on rescue plan, appraisal, construction

By Bhim Singh Rawat* As many as 40 workers were trapped inside Barkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of the 4.5 km long, supposedly completed portion of the tunnel, collapsed early morning on Sunday, Nov 12, 2023. The incident has once again raised several questions over negligence in planning, appraisal and construction, absence of emergency rescue plan, violations of labour laws and environmental norms resulting in this avoidable accident.

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...

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...

Dowry over duty: How material greed shattered a seven-year bond

By Archana Kumar* This account does not seek to expose names or tarnish identities. Its purpose is not to cast blame, but to articulate—with dignity—the silent suffering of a woman who lived her life anchored in love, trust, and duty, only to be ultimately abandoned.

Pairing not with law but with perpetrators: Pavlovian response to lynchings in India

By Vikash Narain Rai* Lynch-law owes its name to James Lynch, the legendary Warden of Galway, Ireland, who tried, condemned and executed his own son in 1493 for defrauding and killing strangers. But, today, what kind of a person will justify the lynching for any reason whatsoever? Will perhaps resemble the proverbial ‘wrong man to meet at wrong road at night!’

Search This Blog