Family of Jahanur Haq files complaint with NHRC, accusing BSF of brutal killing and negligent investigation; fear of evidence tampering in postmortem report
KOLKATA – In a shocking incident that has shaken the community, a young Muslim farmer, Jahanur Haq, was allegedly shot and killed by Border Security Forces (BSF) in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. The tragic event occurred on 3 April in the Indo-Bangladesh border area, with eyewitness accounts and the victim’s family accusing the BSF of torturing and killing Jahanur in cold blood.
The 24-year-old farmer, originally from Bhoram Piyasi village, was reportedly stopped by BSF personnel, stripped of his clothes, and beaten. According to the family’s complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the BSF jawans subjected Jahanur to severe torture before taking his life. “They humiliated him and beat him mercilessly simply because he was Muslim,” said a relative of the victim.
Eyewitnesses recount the horrific details of the killing. One witness described seeing a BSF jawan throwing Jahanur to the ground, climbing on his chest, and shooting him point-blank. “After the first shot to the chest, another BSF jawan fired at his head and leg, causing his immediate death,” the witness stated. Despite the brutal nature of the incident, the body was left in the open for nearly six hours, with BSF personnel preventing the local villagers and Jahanur’s family from approaching.
As the body was eventually taken for medical examination, concerns arose regarding the handling of evidence. The postmortem, delayed by a day due to the absence of a forensic doctor, raised suspicions about possible tampering. Reports suggest that despite clear bullet wounds, the deceased’s skull was not properly examined, heightening fears of negligence or deliberate interference.
The BSF has tried to justify the killing by claiming Jahanur was involved in smuggling, but no official investigation has been initiated, and no action has been taken against the soldiers involved. The local police registered a case under Section 103 (1) of the Indian Penal Code, but the victim’s family remains in despair. “We have been waiting for justice, but it feels like we’re being ignored,” said Jahanur’s mother, Reena Bibi.
Reena, whose family survives on a meagre income of just Rs 4,000, expressed her frustration at the lack of support from authorities. “We are helpless, struggling to make ends meet, and no one is listening to us,” she added.
