National Human Rights Commission urged to intervene in border crisis facing West Bengal village

By A Representative

A grave humanitarian and security crisis has emerged in Ranghat village, located in Bagdah Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, as residents face continuous threats from cross-border criminals and restrictions imposed by the Border Security Force (BSF). The Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) has formally petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking urgent intervention to address human rights violations, socio-economic isolation, and security vulnerabilities affecting nearly 3,000 residents.

In its letter to the NHRC, MASUM Secretary Kirity Roy detailed the plight of the villagers, who belong to OBC Muslim and Scheduled Caste Hindu communities and rely on farming and fishing in the Kodalia River for survival. The letter highlights that Ranghat village is nearly encircled by Bangladesh, with only a narrow southern corridor connecting it to India. This geographical reality has made the village a target for cross-border crimes, including theft, robbery, and dacoity, while also subjecting villagers to constant scrutiny, arbitrary searches, and harassment by BSF personnel.

The absence of proper border fencing has left the area exposed to infiltration, while the heavy monitoring of the village’s only exit by the BSF's Ranghat/Jitpur B.O.P. (B.N.- 68) has resulted in restrictions on movement. Women and girls reportedly face humiliation during security checks, children are frequently stopped and questioned on their way to school, and villagers live in a state of perpetual insecurity.

MASUM has condemned these actions as violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(d), and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality, freedom of movement, and protection of life and liberty. The petition also cites India's international commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

The letter calls upon the NHRC to:

1. Relocate BSF operations to the actual international border, ensuring villagers are not subjected to undue restrictions.

2. Conduct an independent inquiry into human rights violations and security threats.

3. Secure the border with proper fencing and increased patrolling to prevent infiltration.

4. Ensure that BSF personnel operate within legal limits without harassing civilians.

5. Provide compensation and rehabilitation support for victims of cross-border crimes and BSF excesses.

6. Implement socio-economic development programs to integrate Ranghat with the mainstream.

The petition emphasizes the state’s constitutional duty to protect its citizens. It cites the Supreme Court's 2023 Sunil Saini judgment, which reaffirms that a state’s legitimacy rests on its ability to safeguard lives and property.

The NHRC has yet to respond to the plea, but activists argue that swift action is necessary to prevent further suffering in one of India's most vulnerable border villages.

The 'Dr' debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Arrival of USS Lincoln: A ‘leisure trip’ to Thailand or a neo-colonial move to commodify women?

By Benyasiri Eimviriyapong The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for a ‘leisure trip’ in Thailand before returning to its campaign of destruction against the people of West Asia demands immediate interrogation and opposition. For us Thai people, and those in sites of American plunder across the globe, this a rattling of the US’ cold war colonial chains on its most loyal lap dog, while conducting a war of aggression in Iran and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. In allowing the USS Lincoln to dock, the Thai ruling elites are once again facilitating a system of imperial violence that extends far beyond Southeast Asian borders, a system which in our case, is predicated on sexual violence and femicide.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Counterview

Search This Blog