Border villagers in West Bengal's Seuti-II face severe rights violations due to BSF restrictions

By A Representative 

The residents of Seuti-II, a border village under Shukarukuti Gram Panchayat in the Cooch Behar district, are enduring relentless harassment and restrictions on their fundamental rights due to the actions of the Border Security Force (BSF). The village, situated along the Indo-Bangladesh border, has effectively become an open-air prison due to fencing and severe movement restrictions imposed by the BSF.

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a human rights organization, has brought this humanitarian crisis to the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), urging immediate intervention. According to their report, the only entry and exit point for the villagers, Gate No. 17 (controlled by Kushahat B.O.P., C-Company, 138 Bn BSF), is opened only during three short time slots—7:00-9:00 AM, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM, and 4:00-5:00 PM. This restricted access has caused widespread suffering, severely disrupting agriculture, education, healthcare, and economic activities.

Agriculture, the primary livelihood of the villagers, has been severely impacted. Farmers struggle to tend to their fields, and perishable crops often go to waste as they fail to reach markets on time. Daily wage laborers face economic devastation, unable to secure employment due to rigid border restrictions. Many families are falling into debt and destitution, with some being forced to migrate under duress.

Education is another major casualty of these restrictions. With the gate remaining closed during critical school hours, children must wait for hours or miss school altogether. This has led to severe mental stress, demotivation, and a significant rise in school dropouts, violating their Right to Education under the Constitution of India and the Right to Education Act, 2009.

Shockingly, Seuti-II remains deprived of even the most basic civic amenities. There is no school, toilet, constructed road, irrigation system, drinking water facility, or electricity. The villagers are forced to rely on unsafe water sources, risking severe health issues. The BSF has allegedly refused permission for electricity installation, further exacerbating their hardship. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the Border Area Development Programme (BADP)—a government initiative meant to improve infrastructure in border villages. MASUM has called for an urgent audit of BADP funds to investigate why Seuti-II remains neglected despite government allocations.

The absence of adequate healthcare facilities adds to the villagers’ plight. Patients, including pregnant women and the elderly, are often denied passage through the gate beyond designated hours, forcing them to undertake a perilous journey of up to 22 km to the nearest hospital. In many cases, villagers find it easier to seek medical treatment in Bangladesh rather than in their own country—an alarming failure of governance.

Further worsening their condition, the BSF is reportedly encroaching on villagers’ agricultural land to set up new outposts. Farmers who resist these illegal land acquisitions face threats, intimidation, and physical violence. This violates their Right to Property under Article 300A of the Constitution and highlights a troubling misuse of power by security forces.

The ongoing situation in Seuti-II constitutes blatant violations of multiple constitutional rights, including the Right to Life and Dignity (Article 21), Right to Freedom of Movement (Article 19(1)(d)), Right to Equality (Article 14), Right to Education (Article 21A), and Right to Property (Article 300A).

In light of these human rights violations, MASUM has urged the NHRC to take urgent action. Their demands include the relocation of BSF personnel to the Zero Point to ensure security without infringing on citizens’ rights, an independent inquiry into BSF’s actions and restrictions in Seuti-II, immediate restoration of fundamental rights, an investigation into illegal BSF land encroachments, consultations with villagers and civil society organizations to formulate a humane border security policy, and a full audit of BADP funds to determine why Seuti-II remains deprived despite government financial allocations.

The ongoing plight of Seuti-II highlights both a severe human rights crisis and a mismanagement of national security resources. While innocent villagers remain trapped, unguarded border gaps continue to pose security risks. Human rights organizations argue that securing borders should not come at the cost of citizens’ dignity and fundamental rights. The NHRC’s intervention is crucial to ensuring that the people of Seuti-II are no longer treated as prisoners in their own homeland. As the nation moves towards progress and development, the voices of India’s border communities must not be ignored.