'Brutal' custodial torture of youth in West Bengal border district: inquiry sought

By Our Representative
In a gruesome incident, a youth from 108 Chhoto Kuchlibari village of Mekhliganj block and Kuchlibari police station area of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal, Mohammad Bachha is alleged to have been "brutally tortured." Worse, he was later implicated along with his family members on "false charges."
In a complaint, Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has told the chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, has insisted that the perpetrators were the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel attached with the BRK Bari BSF Border Outpost, ‘B’ Company, Battalion No 40.
The incident, said Roy, took place on July 20, 2022 at around 10:30 pm, when Bachha was returning from the Telir Dola pond after fishing. "He was carrying a light and fishing net with him for fishing. As he was about to reach his house at around midnight, six BSF personnel stopped him and started beating him up without even questioning", the complaint said.
It added, Bachha "was severely injured from series of tortures he suffered at the hands of the perpetrators and fractured his hand and waist. He was denied medical attention for the whole night and on the next morning was taken to the Mekhliganj Sub-Divisional Hospital for treatment."
The complaint said, "The Kuchlibari police didn’t receive the victim in custody from BSF as he was severely injured. Hence, the perpetrator BSF officials took the victim to the Jalpaiguri district hospital for allegedly acquiring a fitness certificate from the hospital and then handed over to the police during late night."

Stating that "the Kuchlibari police in connivance with the perpetrator BSF lodged an FIR against the victim and arrested him", Roy said, "The victim’s wife lodged a complaint to the Kuchlibari police station and informed about the incident of torture on July 21, 2022. An FIR was lodged against the complaint (Kuchlibari PS case No 91/22) but no proper action was taken by the police."
Claimed Roy, "The incident violates the rights guaranteed in Articles 19 and 21 of Indian Constitution, and also the premise of Articles 7 and 12 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Goal Nos 8 and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goal earmarked by the United Nations."
Roy demanded, "The whole incident must be investigated by a neutral agency appointed by NHRC. The CCTV footage from Kuchlibari police station and Jalpaiguri hospital on July 21, 2022 and July 26, 2022 should be examined during the investigation to find out the irregularities by the erring officials."
He added, "The guilty BSF personnel and on-duty police personnel involved in the nexus should be booked and prosecuted", the victim must be "duly compensated and provided all expense of his treatment", and "security and safety of the victim and his family members must be protected."

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog