Rights body approaches the National Human Rights Commission pleading for immediate intervention
Abdul Bari Masoud | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), a rights body, has brought a serious violation case of human rights to the notice of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and pleaded for its immediate intervention. As per the complaint, Anowar Mondal, a 20-year-old fisherman from Parashpur village in West Bengal’s Murshidabad District was brutally beaten up and his Fishermen Card was confiscated by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.
In a letter to NHRC, MASUM’s secretary Kirity Roy said Mondal comes from a family of impoverished fishermen. He recently experienced brutal assault and harassment by BSF personnel, which has affected his right to livelihood and instilled fear within his community.
According to the complaint, on 8th November, Mondal, along with other local fishermen, was fishing near Toltoli Ferighat. He was summoned verbally by BSF Camp Commander Shibram without any known provocation. Upon approaching the BSF personnel, Shibram started abusing Mondal. He assaulted Mondal with a ruler stick and warned him not to return for fishing. The commander also confiscated Mondal’s Fishermen Card, marking it with red ink, rendering it potentially unusable. The incident has not only caused a significant physical injury but has jeopardised Mondal’s ability to earn a living.
Roy said that this brutal assault has severely impacted Mondal’s health and caused trauma and insecurity within the fishing community. The actions of the BSF personnel violate fundamental human rights and constitutional protections, specifically Articles 21, 19, and 22 of the Constitution. Such abuse of power threatens the safety, dignity, and livelihood of local fishermen and creates a hostile environment in which they are unable to carry out their work without fear of harassment.
In its fact-finding report, the MASUM states that it was confirmed that Mondal was engaged in routine fishing activities at Toltoli Ferighat which is 6-7 km away from the actual Indo-Bangladesh border; on the morning of the incident. Before the fishing activity, he entered his name and his identity card at the camp situated near Ferighat. At around 6 am, BSF camp commander Shibram called Mondal and confiscated his fisherman card. When Mondal protested, Shibram began beating him, rejected his fisherman card, and prohibited him from any further fishing activity. The high-handedness of the BSF commander was witnessed by several other fishermen present there
Anowar Mondal filed a formal complaint on 8 November at Jalangi Police Station, submitting a written statement and it was registered as GDE in the police station. Despite this, there was no further investigation on the issue. On the same day, Mondal also sought medical treatment at Sadikhan’s Dearh Rural Hospital, where a doctor confirmed that he had sustained severe injuries, including blood clots in his chest.
The case exemplifies the need for strict oversight of law enforcement activities to prevent abuse of power and ensure justice for Mondal and the fishing community of the area.
Kirity Roy alleged that such violation incidents on the Indo-Bangladesh border by the BSF personnel have become normal. That is why the National Human Rights Commission has been approached for its urgent intervention in the matter.
