Human Rights Commission urged to intervene in border village plight

By A Representative

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has received an urgent appeal from human rights activist Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), detailing severe human rights violations faced by residents of Chhat Khochabari, a border village in Coochbehar, West Bengal. The village, home to four Bhatiya Muslim families, is entirely enclosed by barbed wire fencing due to its proximity to the India-Bangladesh border, leading to what Roy describes as a state of “statelessness within their own country.”

According to Roy’s letter to the NHRC Chairperson, the Border Security Force (BSF) restrictions have drastically curtailed the villagers’ fundamental rights. The village, controlled by the Kalai Ghati Border Outpost (B.O.P), operates under strict gate timings, allowing residents to exit and enter only for three one-hour intervals daily. This has severely impacted their daily lives, particularly in medical emergencies, where residents are often forced to seek help in Bangladesh due to access restrictions to Indian healthcare.

The letter highlights several critical issues. Villagers face severe limitations on their freedom of movement, violating Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and Article 12 of the ICCPR. BSF restrictions on transporting farming materials and produce have hampered agricultural activities, violating Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution. The village lacks essential infrastructure, including roads, clean drinking water, healthcare facilities, electricity, irrigation, and sanitation, violating Article 21 and the Directive Principles of State Policy. BSF control extends to social events, including funerals and marriages, requiring prior permission, infringing on the right to freedom of religion (Article 25) and privacy (Article 21). Villagers are unable to sell or buy property due to BSF restrictions, violating Article 300A of the Indian Constitution.

Roy has urged the NHRC to relocate the BSF to the zero line (international border), conduct an immediate investigation into the living conditions, ensure the villagers’ right to movement, property, and livelihood, provide basic amenities, recommend policy changes to prevent similar restrictions, and provide relief and compensation.

The appeal emphasizes that these Indian citizens are living in conditions that resemble a prison, deprived of their basic rights and dignity. The NHRC is now expected to address these critical human rights concerns.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

Search This Blog