[NOTICE: The AHRC have developed a new automatic letter-sending system using the “button” below. However, in this appeal, we could not include e-mail addresses of some of the Indian and Bangladesh authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Indian and Bangladesh authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]
[Re: UA-298-2006: INDIA: Three Indian fishermen abducted from India at the Indo-Bangladesh border by Bangladesh Rifles and now reported missing]
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INDIA: Abduction; breach of police duty; ill-treatment and illegal detention; collapse of rule of law
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Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received further information regarding the case of the three Indian fishermen who were allegedly abducted from Khas Mahal Damush on 6 September 2006 by the officers from Bangladesh Rifles. Khas Mahal Damush is located in Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India. The AHRC has now learned that one of the three abductees managed to escape from the custody of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), while the other two are currently held in prison in Bangladesh after being produced before a local court. Please write to the authorities in both countries to ensure the release of the two persons from the Bangladeshi prison. Till now, the charges against the two persons are unknown.
UPDATED INFORMATION
Mr. Chapatulla Mondol, Mr. Jasim Mondol, aged 16 years and Mr. Mahidul Mondol, aged 14 years from Tiktikipara village of Murshidabad district of West Bengal were allegedly abducted by the Bangladesh Rifles on 6 September 2006 from Khas Mahal Damush. Khas Mahal Damush is within the jurisdiction of Jalangi police station in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state, India. For further information please see our previous appeal on this case: UA-298-2006.
Khas Mahal Damush in India is located very close to Bangladesh along the banks of river Padma. This place is opposite to the jurisdiction of Charghat police station in Rajshahi district in Bangladesh. The three abductees were detained by the BDR at the Charghat BDR camp. They were tied together with rope inside the camp. On 6 September 2006, while some of the BDR officers were sleeping Chapatullah managed to escape from custody.
After escaping from the BDR custody, Chapatullah managed to stay away from the sight of BDR officers, hiding in a sugarcane plantation for two days. On 8 September at about 10:30am Chapatullah managed to get back home crossing the river. Once back home he was able to describe about his arrest, detention and ill-treatment by the BDR officers as well as his ordeal for two days hiding and starving looking for an opportunity to get back home.
Meanwhile, the BDR handed over the other two, Jasim and Mahidul, to the Charghat police. The police produced them before the Rajshahi Magistrate Court. The court remanded them to custody. It is reported that they are currently held at Rajshahi Central Jail in Bangladesh. Till now, the reason for the detention of the two persons is unknown.
On 9 September at about 11am a group of Indian officials including the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India Mr. G.K. Sharma, the BSF Commanding Officer Mr. M.P.S. Bhatti, the Circle Inspector of Police from Domkol police station, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Jalangi police station, Mr. Somnath Banerjee, and an Indian Customs officer visited Lalkup village and held a meeting with local Panchayat (village council) members and Panchayat head at Khayertola BSF outpost. Surprisingly the Commanding Officer of the BSF has asked the villagers not to inform the matter to anyone else and they assured to take appropriate steps to bring back Jasim and Mahidul.
The Bangladeshi official, including the BDR Headquarters as well as the Rajshahi Sector Command, has not yet responded regarding the pervious appeal issued by the AHRC. No progress has been reported till date regarding the release the two abductees.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities mentioned below urging for an immediate intervention in this case so that the abductees are safely returned home from Bangladesh.
Some recipients can be reached by email. To do so, please click:
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear _____________,
INDIA: Two Indians abducted by the Bangladesh Rifles currently detained at Rajshahi prison in Bangladesh
Names of the victims:
(1) Mr. Joshim Mondal, son of Khadim Mondal, aged about 16 years
(2) Mr. Mohidul Mondal, son of Chamtkar Mondal aged about 14 years
[Both are residents of Tiktikipara village, within the jurisdiction of Jalangi police station, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India
Alleged perpetrators: Unidentified officers from the Bangladesh Rifles patrolling near Khas Mahal Damush, Murshidabad district, West Bengal
Date of the incident: 6 September 2006
Place of Incident: Khas Mahal Damush, within the jurisdiction of Jalangi police station, Murshidabad district, West Bengal India
I am writing to you to express concern about the reported unlawful detention of Joshim and Mohidul, two fishermen of Tiktikipara village within the jurisdiction of Jalangi police station, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India.
I am informed that they, along with Mr. Chapatullah, were fishing at Khas Mahal Damush which is well within the Indian territory. However, it is alleged that on 6 September 2006, while they were getting ready to return home with their catch, officers from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) abducted them and took them to Bangladesh along with their boat and their catch. The entire incident was witnessed by Mr. Amir Sk, from Tiktikipara village who was present at a nearby place while they were abducted.
I am informed that Mr. Chapatulla Mondal, who was also abducted along with Jashim and Mohidul managed to escape from the BDR custody on 6 September and returned home on 8 September. Chapatulla has informed his family that Jashim and Mohidul have been detained in the Rashahi Central Jail after being remanded by the Rajshahi Magistrates court in Bangladesh.
I am informed that while in custody at the Charghat BDR camp, the victims were kept tied with a rope. I am also informed that they were not provided any food while in custody.
I therefore request you to immediately intervene in this case and take all necessary steps to ensure that the victims are released from custody from the Rajshahi Central Jail in Bangladesh where they are currently held.
I am also aware that when the three fishermen were abducted the family members of the victims tried to lodge a complaint with the Jalangi police. I am also informed that the police officers denied registering the complaint. I therefore urge you to inquire into this allegation to find out why the complaint by the family members was not registered by the local police.
I also urge the authorities in Bangladesh to initiate an impartial inquiry into this incident and take appropriate actions to ensure the safe return of the detainees from Bangladesh to India at the earliest. I also request you to take immediate steps so that the two detained victims remain safe until they are returned home.
Yours sincerely,
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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Manmohan Singh
The Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
Room number 152, South Block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23016857
2. Mr. M Morshed Khan
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Foreign Ministry Building
Ramna, Dhaka 1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: + 880 2 9555283
E-mail: webmaster@mofabd.org
3. Mr. Shivraj V. Patil
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block
Central Secretariat, New Delhi - 110 001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23093750
4. Mr. Natwar Singh
Minister of External Affairs
Patiala House
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 23011463
Email: knatwar@sansad.nic.in
5. Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Chief Minister/ Minister of Home Department
Government of West Bengal
Writer's Building
Kolkata - 700 001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 2214 5480/ 2214 1341
Email: cm@wb.gov.in
6. The Chief Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers' Buildings, Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 22144328
7. The Home Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers' Buildings, Kolkata - 700001
West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: +91 33 22143001
Email: sechome@wb.gov.in
8. Mr. Hemayetuddin
Secretary
Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh
Foreign Ministry Building
Ramna, Dhaka 1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: (880-2) 9555283
E-mail: fs@mofabd.org
9. Mr. Anwarul Iqbal
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +88-02-9563362 or 9563363
10. Major General Mr. Shakil Ahmed
Director General
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
BDR Headquarter, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 8611300
11. Colonel Mr. B M Zahid Hossain PSC
Sector Commander
Bangladesh Rifles Rajshahi Sector
BDR Sector Headquarter
Rajshahi
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 721 760061/62/63
12. Mr. Nayeem Ahmed
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Rajshahi Range
Office of the DIG Rajshahi Range
Rajshahi
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 721 774460
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)
