BSF personnel 'occupy' land owned by two Dalit women, authorities indifferent

By Kirity Roy*

This is regarding an incident involving two families who have suffered from criminal trespass and illegal tree cutting by personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) at Barnaberia village, located in the Gaighata block of North 24 Parganas.

This action contravenes Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. The actions of the BSF not only infringe upon constitutional rights but also fall under the purview of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, particularly given that the affected villagers belong to Scheduled Caste (Dalit) and other marginalized communities.

The land in question was not in the possession of the BSF personnel who cut down trees without prior notification or approval from the landowners.

Furthermore, the personnel failed to provide a seizure list or deposit the harvested timber with the police. Access to the incident location is restricted, requiring authorization from the BSF due to the land being governed by the Barnaberia Border Outpost (BOP) of the 05 BN BSF.

Consequently, no person can bring anything from outside or remove items from the location without BSF authorization. Immediate intervention is necessary to address this situation with the following demands:

Hold the Barnaberia BOP of 05 BN BSF accountable under the command of Company Commander Haokhomang T for criminal breach of trust regarding the property of Purnima Dhali and Laxmi Karmakar.
Charge the perpetrators with the illegal appropriation and destruction of the property of Purnima Dhali and Laxmi Karmakar.
Ensure that the BSF authorities protect the interests of villagers living near the border.
Allow the victims to cultivate their agricultural lands without interference from the BSF.
Provide justice and compensation to the victims from the BSF.
Safeguard the lives and livelihoods of villagers in border areas.
Ensure security for the family members of the victims.

There is a need to investigate this matter and take appropriate legal action against the offenses.

Case details:

Purnima Dhali, the widow of late Sukumar Dhali, and Laxmi Karmakar, the widow of Naren Karmakar, are farmers from Barnaberia village in the Gaighata block of North 24 Parganas, relying on agriculture for their family's sustenance.

Historically, the Ichamati River has provided irrigation for their lands. However, due to lack of government intervention, the river has become blocked with mud, garbage, and water hyacinths, leading to waterlogged agricultural fields each rainy season.

To mitigate this issue, Purnima Dhali and Laxmi Karmakar planted trees and bamboo, which became their primary income sources, and the BSF had previously not objected to their planting efforts. However, as these trees matured, BSF personnel began illegally felling them without permission while the owners were absent.

BSF forces unlawfully entered their land, resulting in the destruction of 2 bamboo plantations from Purnima Dhali's land and 6 Betel Nut trees, 8 Malaysian Lombu trees, 9 Indian Rosewood trees, 2 Coconut trees, and 2 Jujube trees from Laxmi Karmakar's property.

These actions occurred on September 18, 2024, and October 8, 2024, between 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., leading to a reported economic loss of approximately 2 lakhs for Laxmi Karmakar and several thousand for Purnima Dhali. This loss is substantial for small-scale farmers like them, leaving them devastated by the arbitrary actions of the BSF personnel.

Following these incidents, both women sought assistance from local panchayat members and approached BSF officials on October 8, 2024, to report these illegal activities. However, their requests for compensation were dismissed, with BSF personnel claiming to have acted under superior orders.

Both Purnima and Laxmi also received threats regarding the potential confiscation of their land for road construction by BSF officers. They subsequently filed written complaints with the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Bongaon and the Officer in Charge of the Gaighata police station, but have yet to see any action taken.

---

*Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha, Hooghly. This article reflects the author's representation to the acting chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh* Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

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