Villagers along India-Bangladesh border treated as prisoners in their own country: MASUM

By A Representative 

A serious allegation of human rights violations has been brought to light by Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), highlighting the plight of residents in Seuti-II village, located in Gram Panchayat Sukarukuthi under Dinhata-II Block, Cooch Behar district, West Bengal. The village, comprising 16 families, reportedly faces severe restrictions on movement and basic freedoms, allegedly imposed by the Border Security Force (BSF).

In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kirity Roy, Secretary of MASUM and National Convenor of the Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), described the conditions in Seuti-II as "inhumane" and "a glaring violation of multiple fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution."

According to Roy, villagers are treated as prisoners in their own country. The BSF imposes rigid movement regulations, with the border gate at Chaberi Border Outpost (B.O.P), Gate No. 23, Pillar No. 942-943, opening only three times daily for limited hours. Residents are required to log their movements in a "Hazira Khata" (attendance register), severely curtailing their freedom of movement under Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution.

The letter further alleges that the BSF, instead of providing security at the Zero Point, occupies CPWD roads, leaving the village exposed to cross-border criminal activities. Residents claim they have suffered theft of livestock by Bangladeshi intruders, with little to no protection from security forces.

Infrastructure in Seuti-II is reportedly non-existent. Since the installation of barbed wire fencing in the 1990s, no new roads have been built, electricity is absent, and access to clean drinking water remains a critical issue. Attempts to improve living conditions are allegedly blocked by BSF authorities.

The local economy, reliant on agriculture, has collapsed due to BSF restrictions on transporting farming materials and selling produce. This has forced many young men to migrate in search of work, breaking up families and further impoverishing the community.

Healthcare and education are also severely compromised. There is no primary school in the village, and access to nearby schools and health centers is hampered by the restricted gate timings. Pregnant women, children, and critically ill patients often face dangerous delays in getting medical assistance.

Social life in Seuti-II has also been impacted. Marriages, funerals, and religious gatherings require prior BSF permission, isolating the villagers from their extended families and communities. Land transactions are restricted, depressing land values and denying villagers the economic security that land ownership typically provides.

“These villagers are Indian citizens, not criminals,” Roy asserted in his letter. “Their rights to life, equality, education, property, and dignity are being systematically denied. This situation stands in direct violation of the Indian Constitution and India’s commitments under international human rights conventions.”

MASUM has called on the NHRC to launch an independent investigation into the conditions at Seuti-II and to recommend urgent corrective measures. These include restoring unrestricted access to essential services, lifting arbitrary BSF controls, and relocating security measures to the actual border to safeguard residents.

The appeal concludes with a reminder that behind the fencing lies Bangladesh, unguarded, while Indian citizens on this side of the barbed wire continue to live under oppressive conditions.

The NHRC has yet to issue an official response to the complaint.