Indo-Bangladesh Border Villagers

Kirity Roy

Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) has urged the Acting Chairperson of NHRC to address the problems faced by the residents of Indo-Bangladesh border village Sangarbari, who all are from Scheduled Caste community, under Khalishamari Gram Panchayat in Shitalkuchi Block, Cooch Behar, regarding restrictions imposed on agricultural activities by the Border Security Force (BSF) stationed at Sangarbari BOP ‘Alfa Company’, 157 Battalion of BSF. This matter is a clear picture of denial of access to livelihood which is a violation of their fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to live with dignity.

Sangarbari is a small village with a total population of 1,040 people across 150 Hindu families, primarily dependent on agriculture, and the villagers have an annual income below Rs 36,000. These families possess approximately 1,380 bighas of agricultural land, much of which now lies inside the barbed wire fencing and is only accessible through gates 12, 13, and 14. Given the distances between these gates and the IBBR pillars–250-350 metres for gate 12, 500 metres for gate 13, and 240 metres for gate 14; most of the agricultural land of these villagers is effectively trapped within the fencing.

Due to these circumstances, the farmers are facing several hardships:

* The farmers report frequent interference by BSF personnel, impeding their access to their own lands. Recently, on 7th October 2024, the BSF Commander of Sangarbari BOP, Mr Sandip, along with three other personnel, verbally announced that all bamboo trees within the fenced area must be cut down. Farmers were instructed to submit land documents to the BSF, failing which they would be denied access for agricultural practices. Following this, on 8th October 2024, the gates were closed, blocking essential access.

* The villagers report that Bangladeshi looters frequently intrude into their agricultural land within the fenced area, stealing livestock, crops, and other agricultural produce. Despite being stationed nearby, the BSF has not provided adequate security to protect the farmers from these incursions, rather they stayed in the IBBR, not in IBP.

* The bamboo trees within the fenced area are crucial for daily necessities and housing, yet the villagers are now being compelled to cut these trees against their will. Furthermore, farmers are questioning the necessity of submitting land documents to access their own legal properties, as they rightfully own these lands and should not face such a burden.

The villagers filed a complaint with the office of BDO, Shitalkuchi on 23rd August 2024, yet no resolution has been provided to date. This delay has resulted in continuous financial loss and stress among the villagers, who feel increasingly marginalised and denied their basic rights.

[Kirity Roy is Secretary of MASUM]

Back to Home Page

Frontier
Vol 57, No. 23, Dec 1 - 7, 2024