Does BSF have any authority to regulate one’s occupation?

    It revealed during our fact finding that Mr. Ananta Mondal, District- Murshidabad by occupation is a cattle grazer. He received permission from BSF and local Panchayat to build up hutment (Bathanbari) for grazing cattle and carry out cultivation upon char land i.e. land emerged from river Padma.  

On 22.8.2009 the perpetrator-BSF personnel from Rajanagar BSF Camp forcibly confiscated and transported his cattle from his hutment (Bathanbari) to his village house forbidding him not to graze cattle on char land only on mere allegation that he was about to smuggle the cattle to Bangladesh. Though having valid permission, the victim has not been allowed till date to graze cattle at his hutment (Bathanbari). The victim lodged complaint in this matter before the authorities but in vain. In a recent development of the situation the victim has been even restrained from carrying out any sort of cultivation on char land. Our attached fact finding report gives details of the case.  

The perpetrator BSF personnel acted arbitrarily and illegally by depriving the victim from discharging lawful occupation. The victim’s right to life and right to livelihood being integral part of Article 21of Constitution of India have been grossly violated by perpetrator BSF. The nasty practice of subjugating innocent villagers residing near Indo-Bangladesh border to torture by Border Security Force must be stopped forthwith.