To 16 May 2017
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
Block-C, GPO Complex, INA
New Delhi-110023
Respected Sir,
I want to draw your attention on the continuous torture and harassment by the Border Security Force of Border Outposts No. 1,2,3,4 and 5 under Harudanga BSF Camp of BSF Battalion No. 83. The affected populace is being restricted from their livelihood activities. The affected agrarian gentry residing at several villages namely Uttar Char Majhar Diar, Char Durgapur, Char Harudanga, Char Shibpur, Mahadebpur, Border Para under Raninagar Police Station in Murshidabad District, West Bengal. It was revealed that one Das Saheb; In Charge of the said BSF Camp, restricted the movements and even physically tortured poor villagers of the said villages when they went to cultivate jute in their agrarian lands. It was reported that the said BSF officer passed an ‘order’ that no one can cultivate their land situated within 200 yards of the Outposts under Battalion No 83. The posted BSF personnel at the said Outposts were regularly snatching jute seeds from the villagers whenever they went to sow seeds of jute for cultivation in the pick sowing season.
On 05.04.2017 the aggrieved villagers submitted a written signed petition to the Kalinagar-1 Gram Panchayat, Malibari-1 Gram Panchayat and Officer In-Charge of Raninagar Police Station but till date no response has been made and no remedial action has been taken. In their complaints, the affected villagers mentioned that in normal course, while they gather up in front of the Border Outposts to visit their lands, they have to submit their Epic cards to the posted BSF personnel and this mandatory provision is to check the illegal movements. BSF personnel only allowed the villagers to stay at their land from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m; resulting this agrarian gentry facing severe financial loss. The villagers also complained that the BSF personnel helping the smugglers to smuggle out goods against bribe and at the same time meted out physical and mental torture on villagers while they approach the border road to visit their lands.
The area has devastating effect of river erosion and lives of the people here are under fear of BSF and total deprivation. People are living in penury without governmental social security facilities. Around 90% of agrarian land under these revenue units located adjacent to the border and they have to cross the fence for cultivation. In these circumstances resisting them from firming is the direct threat to their livelihood. The posted BSF officials are deciding the timings for entry and exit from their own land and they are taking people’s identity as mortgage. The border roads in all practical purposes are being transformed as the property of BSF and the officials are restricting the movement of people over there.
The action taken by BSF is not only against the liberty of the people but also violating their right to chose their occupation and right to movement freely which is mentioned in Article 21 and Article 19 of Indian Constitution respectively.
In addition, this action is against the Article 6 of International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights that everyone has the right to work; including the right to gain one’s living at work which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard this right.
In this context, I demand for immediate end of these uncalled-for and unjustified restriction posed by the BSF and civil administration and adequate financial compensation for the citizenry for their loss.
I also demand that BSF should be posted within 150 yards of international border, not in the villages. In villages namely Uttar Char Majhar Diar BSF is posted 5 kms inside territory, in Char Durgapur 3 kms, Char Harudanga 4 kms, Char Shibpur 5 kms, Mahadebpur 5 kms, Border Para 5-6 kms.
Sincerely Yours
(Kirity Roy)
Secretary – MASUM
&
National Convener- PACTI
Name and land details of the affected
| SL NO | NAME | VILLAGE | DAG NO | KHATIAN NO | Name of the MOUJA |
| 1 | GIRISH MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 656,653 | 538,200 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 2 | BISWANATH MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 612 | 1 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 3 | MADHUSUDHAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1102 | 416 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 4 | MADAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 9 | 4 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 5 | KRISHNA CHANDRA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1104, 505 | 1 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 6 | DHIREN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 594 | 353 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 7 | NAREN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 594 | 353 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 8 | MOHORLAL MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 2124 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 9 | BIMAL MONDL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 2124 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 10 | DIJEN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1073 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 11 | BABULAL MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 594 | 353 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 12 | CHOBI MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 594 | 353 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 13 | DHIRAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 894 | 701 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 14 | RAMPADA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 594 | 751 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 15 | BISHNUPADA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 605,704 | 11041 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR, DAKSHIN CHAR DUMURIA |
| 16 | TARUN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1100 | 294 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 17 | BABULAL MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1100 | 294 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 18 | RITEN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1100 | 294 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 19 | DINESH MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 604 | 913 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 20 | RAICHARAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1099 | 468 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 21 | UJJAL MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1099 | 468 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 22 | ASHOK MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1099 | 468 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 23 | SUJIT MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 600 | 913 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 24 | NAGEN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1100 | 298 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 25 | RAM CHANDRA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 644 | 251 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 26 | LAKSHMAN CHANDRA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 644 | 251 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 27 | AMAL CHANDRA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 644 | 251 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 28 | SANATAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 644 | 251 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 29 | SUSHANTA MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 644 | 251 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 30 | MADAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 1104 | 1 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 31 | SRIBAS MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 606 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 32 | AMAL MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 639 | 93 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 33 | RANJIT MONDIL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 2124 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 34 | KHAGEN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 606 | 414 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 35 | SUDHAN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 606 | 414 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 36 | NAGEN MONDAL | CHAR DURGAPUR | 606 | 414 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 37 | KHORSED SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 38 | YAR MOHAMMAD | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 39 | JAN MOHAMMAD | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 40 | SK RAMJAN | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 41 | MUNTAJ SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 42 | NAJIMUDDIN SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 43 | AYAJUDIN | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 1112 | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
| 44 | MAINUDDIN | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 45 | JEKER SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 46 | KHALEK SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 47 | KHOKA SK | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR | |
| 48 | ALAUDDIN MONDAL | UTTAR CHAR MAJHARDIAR | 314 | PASCHIM CHAR MAJHARDIAR |
