BSF forcibly acquiring Dalit, Adivasi land for border fencing: 'Acquisition law violated'

Counterview Desk
In a representation to the chairman, National Human Rights Commission, senior activist Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has complained that the land of Tribals and Dalits is being forcibly grabbed by public servants at Sutia village, Bongaon block, North 24 Parganas district.
He said, the Border Security Force (BSF) is constructing a border fence in the village area, for which the security agency is "forcibly taking possession of the land of the villagers."
Asserting that the aggrieved villagers have lodged their complaint but there is no response from the local police, Roy said, this BSF move is violation of the acquisition procedures under to the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and 2013, as also Article 300A of the Indian Constitution which states that every Indian citizen is entitled to enjoy their right to property.

Text:

This letter is for your urgent attention to the unlawful land seizure at Sutia village of Gram Panchayat Tangra Colony under Block and Police Station of Bongaon in 24 Parganas (North) District, West Bengal.
The BSF is constructing a border fence in the village area, for which the security agency is forcibly taking possession of the lands of the villagers. They are grabbing the land at night, without informing the actual owners of it. The villagers are in protest against the unlawful activity of the BSF and are in demand that they should construct the proposed border fence along the border. If the construction takes place, then the village market, temples, and burning ghats will be enclosed by the border fence, which will be inaccessible to the villagers. The villagers sensed a conspiracy by the panchayat Pradhan (president), CPWD, and the BSF, to construct the border fence and a road.
The actions by the Border Security Force at Sutia village are not only challenging their life and livelihood but also violating 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and Article 12 and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The denial to access to the needs of their proper livelihood practices is against Articles 6 (Right to Work), 7 (Right to enjoyment of just and favorable condition of work), 9 (Right to Social Security), and 11 (Right to Adequate Standard of living) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). In all these international instruments, the Government of India is a party and has taken a pledge to adhere with.
The aggrieved villagers already lodged their complaints on the act by the BSF which are in the following:
1. Gram Panchayat Pradhan Dtd. 19 October 2022
2. BDO. Bangaon. Dtd. 16 October 2022
3. BL&LRO. Bongaon. Dtd. 17 October 2022
4. SDO. Bongaon. Dtd. 17 October 2022
5. Police Station. Bongaon. Dtd. 17 October 2022
The incident violates land acquisition procedures according to the Land Acquisition Act, of 1894 and of 2013, and also Article 300A of the Indian Constitution which states that every Indian citizen is entitled to enjoy their right to property. The arbitrary actions of the BSF to construct a border fence on the lands owned by villagers is nothing but a systematic enforcement of acquisitions of lands owned by the respective Indian citizen.
The inaction of the concerned government line departments, even after lodging the complaint by the victims, also violates Goal number 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which speaks of access to justice for all.
I request your urgent intervention in this case by fulfilling the following demands of the villagers:

The Border Security Force should construct the fence at the international border and not inside the village.
All the encroachments done by the BSF, should be immediately revoked and guilty personnel be booked.
BSF should be instructed to follow constitutional and legal mandates.
Government of India and the Government of West Bengal should abide by the Chapter III of the Indian Constitution where the fundamental rights of Indian citizenry are enshrined.
BSF should not restrict the life and livelihood of the villagers.
For security reasons the BSF should acquire land only after legal formalities.

I hope this letter clarifies the issue forced upon the villagers and which entails urgent resolution for their livelihood. Please allow me to further provide any information which you may require in resolving the case.

Comments

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

PM-JUGA: Support to states and gram sabhas for the FRA implementation and preparation and execution of CFR management plan

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan* (Over the period, under 275(1), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided fund to the states for FRA implementation. Besides, some states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra allocated special fund for FRA implementation. Now PM-JUDA under “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan(DAJGUA) lunched by Prime Minister on 2nd October 2024 will not only be the major source of funding from MoTA to the States/UTs, but also will be the major support to the Gram sabha for the preparation and execution of CFR management Plan).

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

How Amit Shah's statement on Ambedkar reflects frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion, empowerment

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Dr. B.R. Ambedkar remains the liberator and emancipator of India’s oppressed communities. However, attempts to box him between two Brahmanical political parties betray a superficial and self-serving understanding of his legacy. The statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha was highly objectionable, reflecting the frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion and empowerment.

Balod tech fest tests students’ interest in innovative ideas in the fields of science, engineering, start-ups

By Our Representative A techno fest scheduled on December 20 and 21 in Balod district of Chhattisgarh will test the innovative ideas of school students in the fields of science, engineering and start-ups. For this two-day fest organised at Maheswari Bhawan of the district, a total of 824 models made by students were initially registered. Out of those, a selection committee chose 200 models from several schools spread over five blocks of Balod. These will be on display on these two days from 10am to 4.30pm. Out of many ideas, one of the most interesting models is a smart glove which can be used by children with impairments and disabilities. For those who cannot speak at all or have speech difficulty, they can ask for help from caregivers by pressing their fingers on the glove after wearing it. This will attract attention.

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

Affable but arrogant, embodying contradictions, Raj Kapoor's legacy will endure as long as Bollywood exists

By Harsh Thakor* December 14 marks the birth centenary of Raj Kapoor, a filmmaker and visionary who revolutionized Bollywood, elevating it to new heights by exploring uncharted emotional and social territories. Kapoor wasn’t just a filmmaker; he was a storyteller who touched the souls of the masses and reflected the pulse of post-partition India with unparalleled depth. His films acted as a unifying force in a divided nation, transcending social and cultural boundaries.

Suspicious death of Dalit laborer in BSF custody: A call for justice

By Kirity Roy* The tragic and suspicious death of Mr. Babai Barui, a Dalit daily wage laborer from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, has raised serious concerns regarding custodial violence and the violation of fundamental rights. Mr. Barui, son of Sukharanjan Barui, resided in Pallishree Sangsad, Bongaon, and was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) on November 9, 2024, near the Angrail border on allegations of smuggling. The very next day, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances, with visible injuries that point toward possible custodial violence.

Search This Blog