Stateless in Their Own Country

Kirity Roy

East Sahebganj is a smallvillage on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Coochbehar district, where 7 families, comprising around 30 individuals, have been residing for generations. The entire village is enclosed by barbed wire fencing, cutting it off from the mainland. Despite being Indian citizens, these people live under conditions worse than prisoners, as their every movement is controlled and dictated by the BSF.

The village falls under the jurisdiction of PurbaSahebganj B.O.P, D Company, 129 BN BSF, and has only one entry-exit point, Gate No. 6, which is opened for extremely limited periods.

During these restricted time slots, villagers are expected to manage all their essential activities, including buying food, selling crops, accessing healthcare, and meeting any other needs. If someone fails to return before the gate closes, they are left stranded outside, sometimes forced to spend the whole night in extreme hardship. The relatives of those people do not even have the liberty to visit their homes from nearby towns without seeking permission from BSF officers, which often involves days of pleading and humiliation.

The villagers of East Sahebganj (Netaji Bajar Part), have been living in this land for generations, yet they are treated as stateless people within their own country. When the border fencing was built, they had no land elsewhere in India to relocate to. Consequently, they were left trapped in an unlivable space, their land turning into a burden rather than an asset.

The suffering of East Sahebganj villagers constitutes gross violations of multiple constitutional and human rights, including:

Right to Freedom of Movement (Article 19(1)(d)); Right to Livelihood (Article 21; Right to Life and Dignity (Article 21); Right to Trade and Occupation (Article 19(1)(g)); Right Against Exploitation (Article 23).

The people of East Sahebganj are not criminals, smugglers, or threats to national security. They are citizens of India, deserving dignity, rights, and freedom. The NHRC must intervene urgently to restore justice and protect these marginalised citizens from further suffering.

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 43, Apr 20 - 26, 2025