INDIA: Corrupt Border Security Force officers connive with cross border smugglers and murder innocent farmer in Murshidabad district, West Bengal 

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: UA-146-2006
ISSUES: Military, Police violence,

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from its local partner, Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (Masum), regarding the death of Mr. Abhilash Mondal, who was shot dead by the Border Security Force (BSF) officers stationed at Out Post number 1, Harudanga Camp (136 Battalion of BSF) on 17 April 2006. It is alleged that Abhilash was shot at while running away from the BSF officers after they charged at him for his questioning of their illegal activities which caused damage to his cornfield.

It is reported that on April 17 Abhilash came to know through his brother Jogesh Mondal that a large number of cattle, amounting to roughly one hundred in number, had been gathered in his cornfield. It is reported that the cattle were being smuggled across the India/Bangladesh border.

Coming to know that the cattle were gathered in his field and fearing that they would damage the corn, which they did, Abhilash rushed to the fields with his brother. When they reached the fields they saw the BSF officers and the smugglers arguing. It is alleged that smuggling along the India/Bangladesh border is carried out with the connivance of the BSF officers stationed at the border and it is usual practice for the officers to seize one or two animals, for the sake of the records, and let the other animals and goods pass through. It is alleged that when Abhilash and his brother reached the fields the argument between the BSF officers and the smugglers was about the number of cattle the officers had seized.

Finding that the cattle had damaged his crop, Abhilash protested with the smugglers and the officers about this. The smugglers and the officers responded by beating Abhilash with rifle butts and kicking him. His brother Jogesh managed to escape. Abhilash was seriously injured in the assault. As Abhilash lay injured on the ground, the officers opened fire on him. According to witness testimony thirteen rounds were fired, of which twelve projectiles were recovered from Abhilash’s body. Though the post mortem report is yet to be released, it is said that two projectiles were recovered from Abhilash’s shoulder joint and the rest were found in his abdomen.

Abhilash’s father filed a complaint against the officers alleged to have been involved in the incident at the Raninagar police station on 18 April 2006 against which the police refused to register a case of murder, but registered case number 06/06 as one of unnatural death. The autopsy on Abhilash’s body was carried out at Lalbagh Sub Divisional Hospital and according to the preliminary report the cause of death was certified as one from gun shot injury. Abhilash leaves behind his widow Phool Kumari who is currently pregnant.

On 21 April 2006 Phool Kumari filed a complaint regarding the incident at the office of the Superintendent of Police Murshidabad giving exact details about the incident. However, it is reported that the police are yet to take into custody the officers responsible for the brutal murder and that by all probabilities the officers will not be charged at all. It is also alleged that the witnesses to the incident will soon be put under pressure by the BSF officers with support from the local police.

It is alleged that similar instances are common along the India/Bangladesh border in West Bengal. It is also reported that most of these cases are recorded as cases of persons killed in encounters and no further actions are initiated by the administration or by the government. It is also alleged that witnesses to such incidents, mostly locals, are intimidated and threatened by the BSF officers and anyone who dares to speak out will be murdered, tortured or implicated in false cases with charges of crimes against national security.

Most farmers in the area are poor and hold small to moderate stretches of land along the India/Bangladesh border. In order to engage in farming on these lands the farmers are dependent on the BSF for protection, but at the same time are at their complete mercy and often have to keep silent about any attack upon their rights. Due to this situation, common legal remedies are never sought and this results in the BSF officers enjoying absolute impunity. The local police share the profits of illegal trade with the BSF officers and also further exploit the situation by conniving with them. The local police are also intimidated by the BSF officers since the area is under their command.

The West Bengal state administration show no consideration for the people in the border areas since most of them are, by default, branded as immigrants from Bangladesh, though they are encouraged to cast their votes at the time of elections. This factor is reflected in the acute poverty that exists in the area, particularly in Murshidabad district which has reported more than a dozen cases of starvation.

As of today Phool Kumari is left with nothing other than the memories of her murdered husband and the baby she is carrying. The crop which the family was dependent on is ruined and soon the region will face heavy rains. The family has lost the sole earning member of the family and the state has not paid any compensation to the family for the death. Unless the case is taken up, which will require the intervention of the State as well as the Central Government, there will be no investigation into this matter thereby eliminating all possibilities of the perpetrators being punished.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to the relevant authorities seeking for an immediate and effective investigation into the incident, and calling for the perpetrators to be prosecuted. The AHRC also calls for a strong stance to be taken against crimes committed by police officers and on investigation and prosecution of such cases.

 

 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear ______________,

INDIA: Corrupt Border Security Force officers connive with cross border smugglers and murder innocent farmer in Murshidabad district, West Bengal

Name of victim: Mr. Abhilash Mondal, aged about 31 years, formerly residing at Harudanga, Raninagar police station, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India
Names alleged perpetrators: Officers (three to four in number and names yet to be identified) from the Indian Border Security Force attached to Outpost number 1 of Harudanga Camp, under the Command of 136 Battalion, Char Kuthi, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India
Date of incident:  17 April 2006
Place of incident: Outpost number 1 of Harudanga camp along the India/Bangladesh border, Murshidabad district, West Bengal

I am shocked to learn about the murder of Mr. Abhilash Mondal who was shot to death by officers from the Border Security Force stationed at Outpost number 1 of Harudanga Camp, under the Command of 136 Battalion, Char Kuthi, Murshidabad district, West Bengal on 17 April 2006. 

I am informed that Abhilash was brutally beaten and shot after protesting at the BSF officers about the cattle they were detaining on his farm and were about to illegally trade across the border. Abhilash was most upset that the cattle were destroying his corn field that he and his family relied on for survival. In response the BSF officers shot him dead.

I am concerned that the local police will not take further action on the complaint filed by the widow and the father of the victim since the response thus far by the police has only been to register a case of unnatural death; rather than murder as it should be. I am equally concerned about the safety of the brother of the victim Mr. Jogesh Mondal who was with Abhilash prior to his argument with the BSF officers and who is therefore most likely in a position to identify the officers who shot Abhilash. I therefore urge you to immediately intervene in this case and request the state administration to take all possible steps to ensure the safety of the brother of the victim Mr. Jogesh Mondal, who is a witness to the incident.

I also urge for the Chief of the Border Security Force to initiate an immediate impartial inquiry into the incident, identify the perpetrators and handover the officers responsible for the murder to the local police for investigation and prosecution.

I further request you to pressure the Central Government of India to pay interim compensation to the family of the deceased victim.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister and Minister in Charge of Home (Police) Department
Government of West Bengal
Writers' Buildings, Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 2214 5555 (O) / 2280 0631 (R)
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480
Email: cm@wb.gov.in

2. Mr. Subhash Awasthi
Director General of Police
Government of West Bengal
Writers Buildings
Kolkata-1
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 4498 / 2214 5486
Email: padgp@wbpolice.gov.in

3. Mr. P.R. Ray
Home Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers' Buildings
Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 2214 5656
Fax: +91 33 2214 3001
Email: sechome@wb.gov.in

4. Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen
Chairperson
West Bengal Human Rights Commission
Bhabani Bhavan, Alipore
Kolkata – 700027
West Bengal
INDIA
Tel: +91 33 4797259 / 5558866
Fax: +91 33 4799633
Email: wbhrc@cal3.vsnl.net.in

5. Mr. Justice A. S. Anand
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg 
New Delhi-110001
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 23074448
Fax: +91 11 2334 0016
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in

6. Mr. Shivraj V. Patil
Home Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Jaisalmer Hosue, New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23094221/ 23794833
 
7. The Director General
Border Security Force
B-10, CGO Complex, New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 24361202
 
8. Inspector General (Administration)
Border Security Force
B-10, CGO Complex, New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 24361202
9. Mr. Manjunath Prasad
District Magistrate - Murshidabad 
Murshidabad
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 34 8225 0145

10. Mr. Philip Alston 
Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions 
Att: Lydie Ventre
Room 3-016
c/o OHCHR-UNOG, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland 
Tel: +41 22 917 9155
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)
Email: lventre@ohchr.org

Thank you.

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)

Document Type : Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID : UA-146-2006
Countries : India,
Issues : Military, Police violence,