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.
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