7th May 2012
To
The Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House
Copernicus Marg
New Delhi
Respected Sir
I want to draw your attention on an incident of ghastly murder of an agrarian labourer from oppressed community of Muslim, by the posted Border Security Force personnel. The incident took place on 22.04.2012 at Indo- Bangladesh bordering area of Murshidabad district of West Bengal. The incident further exposed the deception in Border Security Force's claim on the use of lethal weapons. The force by issuing a statement and subsequent notification claimed that the force is in self restraint mode regarding the use of lethal weapons at the said border and trying to minimize the incidents of loss of human lives, which was duly welcomed by the populace of that area and MASUM, as an organization involved with the issue.
In this incident, Late Babu Seikh, son of Mr. Momin Seikh, a young man of 21 years was living at the bordering village of Khamarpara- Beledanga, Post Office- Katlamar, Police Station- Raninagar under Murshidabad district of West Bengal. The actual Indo- Bangladesh border from this village is nearly 7 kilometers away. Making bamboo baskets and other household items is the major occupation of the village but the deceased was working at agrarian lands of others for sustenance. He had a teenage wife and an 8 months old daughter.
On the fateful day; 22.3.2012 at about 9 in the morning, Babu Seikh left his home for Mr. Tutul Sheikh's agrarian land. The day passed and he did not returned till at night made his family worried and next morning; 23.3.2012, they went out to search Babu Seikh. Afterward, the family came to know that the deceased along with Mr. Tutul Seikh; son of Mr. Faizuddin Seikh, Mr. Riajul Shah; son of Mr. Rezu Shah and Mr. Selim Shah; son of Mr. Sourabh Shah, all are resident of Khamarpara- Beledanga, Post Office- Katlamari, Police Station- Raninagar of Murshidabad district went towards the Char (marshland) on previous evening at about 7 pm i.e. 22.03.2012 evening. The persons including the deceased while were strolling towards Rajanagar under Raninagar police station, 6 BSF personnel attached with Char Rajanagar Camp of 91 Battalion of BSF chased them at Ashramtala Mahadev Ghat of Rajapur Gram Panchayet under Raninagar police station. The BSF personnel after hounding them resorted to firing without any warning. One of the bullets pierced through the middle chest of the deceased. The BSF personnel then dragged the bullet riddled body of Babu Seikh to their vehicle and drove to Rajanagar Camp. The family also complained that the deceased was till alive and faced inhuman torture there at the said camp and due to that later died. One of the eye witnesses (name withheld) informed us that they were so frightened by the incident that not dared to visit the Rajanagar Camp for inquiring whereabouts of the deceased.
The father of the deceased informed the police of Raninagar police station about the incident at 9 am, on 23.3.2012, Mr. Nilanjan Roy, Sub Inspector of Police attached to Raninagar PS, went to the said camp by a police jeep and recovered Babu Seikh's body from BSF camp at Rajanagar. The Raninagar police station started an Unnatural Death Case vide U/D (Unnatural Death) Case No. 04/12 dated 23.3.12 in first instance, later receiving a written complaint from the widow of the deceased, Ms. Banuwara Bibi, initiated Raninagar PS Case 155/12 dated 23.3.12 against unknown BSF of 91 Battalion under section 302 of Indian Penal Code. Later, on the same date the body has been sent to Behrampur General Hospital; Murshidabad for post mortem examination and the examination was done on 24.3.2012 and body was handed over to the family on the same date for last rites.
In this case, the BSF personnel not only killed a person with savage brutality but kept the person in their captivity without informing the police, fellow villagers and his family about the incident. In this course they tried to destroy / disappearance of the evidence of murder committed by them. They did not call any doctor to examine the body of the victim. The police of Raninagar also did not take any step to examine the body medically. As far we have been reported, the BSF has not made any complaint against the deceased in this incident; which is uncharacteristic for BSF in cases of extra judicial killings by them. No magistrate was called for enquiry of the dead body. The victim family did not receive the post mortem Examination Report.
In this regard I demand:-
- An independent and expedite investigation over the incident by the Investigating Arm of NHRC
- Adequate charges of destroying and / or disappearance of evidence of murder must be included in the case against the involved BSF personnel.
- Adequate security, safety and protection for the family members and witnesses
- Adequate compensation to the wife of the deceased
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
40A, Barabagan Lane (4th Floor)
Balaji Place
Shibtala
Srirampur
Hooghly
PIN- 712203
Tele-Fax - +91-33-26220843
Phone- +91-33-26220844 / 0845
e. mail : kirityroy@gmail.com
Web: www.masum.org.in
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