Indo-Bangla border: Farmers facing 'illegal obstacles' in harvesting, transporting yields

Counterview Desk

In a representation to the chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, human rights defender Kirity Roy, who is secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has said that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are creating "illegal obstacles" for farmers seeking to harvest their ripened yields and transport them to the market in village Jhaukuthi of Cooch Behar district.

When an affected farmer complained to district officials, including polic, the BSF Company Commander made visits at his shop and terrorized him of physical harms and threatened him to implicate him in false criminal cases. He even threatened the farmer by saying that he will not permit to bring the onion sprouts to market, and he could contact anybody, but this was not going to help.

Text:

I wish to draw your attention over an incident of highhandedness and illegal obstacle created by Border Security Force personnel to harvest the ripened yields, then transport them to market/ house. Mr. Aziz Fakir, son of Mr. Kepatulla Fakir, and Mr. Sajahan Fakir, son of Mr. Kepatulla Fakir, of village Jhaukuthi of Balabhut Gram Panchayat under Toofangung I Block of Cooch Behar district have cultivated onion in their .66 acre of agrarian land which is situated at the other side of the border fence.

At the time of cultivation, they priorly informed and took permission of the Talai Border Outpost of “F’ Company of 14 BSF Battalion. While the above-mentioned persons visited the BSF Company Commander of Jhaukuthi BOP, Mr. Dida Ram, on 01.03.2024, to take permission to harvest the onion sprouts from their agrarian lands having dag numbers 941and 762 and khatian number 420/1 and 5014 and bring the yields to market for sell, the said Company Commander told them that he will visit the land and then only provide the permission. On 03.03.2024, the farmers again visited the mentioned BOP but the Company Commander did not pay any heed.

After that Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar; the husband of Gram Panchayet Member; Ms. Aswiya Bibi visited the BOP with same purpose but he was driven out from the BOP with a caution for not to visit the BOP with this purpose. Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar while visited the mentioned fields, found that two sacks of onion sprouts were confiscated at the Jhaukuthi ‘Four Alfa’ BSF outpost while the farmers tried to bring it to the market.

The two sacks consisting around 120 kilograms of onion sprouts were lying at the river bank for 7 days and getting rotten. Then while Mr. Aziz Fakir, the affected farmer, visited the mentioned Company Commander on 04.03.2024, Mr. Fakir was driven out with threats and humiliations. Mr. Saji P.N, one BSF personnel attached with ‘G’ Branch, even accused the farmer by saying that the onion sprouts are being smuggled in from Bangladesh as he has not cultivated the yields, so the permission for transport would not be given.

While Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar; the husband of Gram Panchayet Member, Ms. Aswiya Bibi, accompanied the farmers to brought the onion sprouts to the BSF outpost, they were restricted by the posted BSF personnel and when he tried to discuss the matter with Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar was forced to go away. Mr. Aftar Byapari, Prodhan of Balabhut Gram Panchayat, contacted Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, to resolve the issue but Mr. Dida Ram did not pay any heed to his request.

Then the aggrieved farmers made written submissions to the Sub Divisional Officer, Toofangunj, the Block Development Officer of Toofangunj Block I and Officer in Charge of Toofangunj Police Station. The Block Development Officer of Toofangunj I Block sent a notice to the Assistant Commandant of Madhya Jhaukuthi BOP on 06.03.2024 to resolve the issue but the arrogant BSF personnel has not taken any corrective measure.

Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, made visits to Mr. Aziz Fakir at his shop and terrorized him of physical harms and implicating Mr. Fakir in false criminal cases. He even threatened Mr. Fakir by saying that he will not permit to bring the onion sprouts to market while Mr. Fakir can contact anybody, none could deter him from his decision.

Hence, I demand for:

Immediate stop of this illegal act of BSF to harass the farmers and facilitate the harvest of their yields and subsequent transport of produce to market.
Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, and Mr. Saji P.N of ‘G’ Company must be booked for denying constitutional rights under appropriate legal provisions.
The aggrieved farmers must be compensated for financial loss they incurred due to these illegal acts of BSF personnel.

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