Right to Life: Under threat
Right to life and livelihood of a large section of people who are residing at Indo- Bangladesh bordering areas of District Murshidabad in West Bengal.
The background of the problem is that numbers of people are living in those areas have lost almost everything due to devastating land erosion by river Padma, which is a continuous phenomenon in the said area. The government and authorities failed to design and extend any compensation or rehabilitation to the populace who are living in penury due to the said natural calamity as well as ill-planning. In addition to that due to different departmental and administrative orders imposed by the Border Security Force (BSF) and district authorities people are constrained and restricted to reach their own agrarian land situated at the other side of the barbed fence; erected at least 8 kilometers inside the actual Indo-Bangladesh border, which is again against prescribed international and national norms. The whole process is contravening to Article 21 of Indian Constitution which extend right to life and liberty with dignity to every person inside the Indian Territory.
The victims as well as our organization lodged several complaints regarding the issue to different public and administrative authorities but all went in vein. Consequently the villagers vented their grievances against the BSF authorities and posted personnel and local police administration.
We received several complaints regarding the subjugation in regular basis. Here I am referring some recent complaints which I have received from the populace living at the said area. It was reported to me by around 20 villagers including Mr. Imrajul Seikh and Mr. Kanai Mondal that on 28th June 2010 around 8 am they went to outpost number III of Bamnabad BSF camp and requested the posted BSF personnel to allow them to visit their land for agrarian purposes with specific reasons. The posted BSF constable replied them that he is unable to accept their request and stated that he is only maintaining the order of the District Magistrate of Murshidabad. The villagers then went to the Block Development Office (BDO) of Raninagar II Block, and lodged written complaint about the same. They also lodged written complaint at Raninagar police station on the same day with same content. Mr. Pabitra Mitra Mustafi; the Officer-in-Charge of the said police station assured them that he would intervene urgently into the matter. Mr. Arunava Das; the Block Development Officer of the Raninagar II called a meeting with all concerns on 13th July 2010. Astonishingly on 11th July, i.e. just 2 days before of the proposed meeting, the meeting was cancelled by him. Till date the meeting has not been held. Only prove insensitive and illegal approach of the said authorities.
Here it should be referred that illegal cross border smuggling and movements are smoothly going on through the said area having connivance with the posted BSF personnel.