Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) concerning the case of torture of an innocent villager by the Border Security Force (BSF). It is reported that the BSF officers assaulted the victim in the case, Mr Rokim, without any apparent reason thereby fracturing his left leg bone. It is reported that though a complaint has been filed at the local police station concerning the incident, no credible actions has been initiated against the BSF officers.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Rokim, son of Chercheru, aged about 24 years, is a farmer. He resides at Boorfulbari, in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal within the jurisdiction of Goalpokhar Police Station. On 23 June 2011 at about 7 pm Rokim was answering nature’s call near the house of one Mr Amjad Ali. In many parts of rural India, due to the lack of proper toilet facilities, it is common for people to ‘ease’ themselves in the open.
While Rokim was squatting down on the ground, about seven to eight BSF officers from Fulbari Border Out Post, came near him. Out of them two BSF officers, without any apparent reason mercilessly assaulted Rokim with their rifle butts and wooden sticks. Rokim sustained grievous injuries as the result of the assault. Rokim fell down on the ground and lost his consciousness.
When he regained his consciousness he dragged himself to his house. Then he went to the Sahara Clinic, located at Dharmashala Road, Kishanganj, North Dinajpur. At the hospital he was identified of having suffered a series of injuries, of which one was a fracture on his left leg.
Rokim then sent a written complaint against the BSF officers addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Goalpokhar Police Station through the registered post on 23 August 2011. However, no action followed Rokim’s complaint. Rokim also filed a written complaint to the Block Development Officer, Goalpokhar-I Division Block, Uttar Dinajpur on the same day.
MASUM reports that the BSF officers were from battalion number 23 stationed in the district. MASUM has also filed a complaint at the National Human Rights Commission of India about the incident. No action has followed based on this complaint as well.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below asking for their urgent intervention in this case. The AHRC is also writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture calling for an intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear __________,
INDIA: Kindly take actions against the BSF officers who tortured and broke the leg of an innocent farmer in Uttar Dinajpur district
Name of victim: Mr Rokim, son of Chercheru, aged about 24 years, residing at Boorfulbari, Solpara post, Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal
Alleged perpetrators: About seven or eight BSF officers from Fulbari Border Out Post, from Battalion number 23 stationed at Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal
Date of incident: 23 June 2011
Place of incident: Barofulbari, Uttar Dinajpur district
I am writing to you concerning the case of Mr Rokim, son of Chercheru, aged about 24 years, who is a farmer. I am informed that the BSF had tortured Rokim, without any apparent reason and have fractured his left leg.
Rokim resides at Boorfulbari, in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal within the jurisdiction of Goalpokhar Police Station. On 23 June 2011 at about 7 pm Rokim was answering nature’s call near the house of one Mr Amjad Ali. In many parts of rural India, due to the lack of proper toilet facilities, it is common for people to ‘ease’ themselves in the open.
While Rokim was squatting down on the ground, about seven to eight BSF officers from Fulbari Border Out Post, came near him. Out of them two BSF officers, without any apparent reason mercilessly assaulted Rokim with their rifle butts and wooden sticks. Rokim sustained grievous injuries as the result of the assault. Rokim fell down on the ground and lost his consciousness.
When he regained his consciousness he dragged himself to his house. Then he went to the Sahara Clinic, located at Dharmashala Road, Kishanganj, North Dinajpur. At the hospital he was identified of having suffered a series of injuries, of which one was a fracture on his left leg.
Rokim then sent a written complaint against the BSF officers addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Goalpokhar Police Station through the registered post on 23 August 2011. However, no action followed Rokim’s complaint. Rokim also filed a written complaint to the Block Development Officer, Goalpokhar-I Division Block, Uttar Dinajpur on the same day.
MASUM reports that the BSF officers were from battalion number 23 stationed in the district. MASUM has also filed a complaint at the National Human Rights Commission of India about the incident. No action has followed based on this complaint as well.
I therefore urge you to take the following actions in the case:
1. That the police register the complaint of the victim against the BSF;
2. The police record the statement of the witnesses, if any, to the incidents;
3. The West Bengal State Administration order an immediate enquiry against the BSF’s conduct along the Indo-Bangladesh border, in particular their alleged acts of threats against the civilians and human rights defenders;
4. Should the inquiry and the complaint filed by the victim provide adequate information about the BSF officers involved in the case, such officers be immediately discharged from active duty at the BSF and detained at the BSF camp or at the local police station as required under the BSF Act;
5. The victim provided immediate protection and compensation;
Yours sincerely,
—————-
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Ms Mamata Banerjee
Chief Minister
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Building, Kolkata, West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: + 91 33 22144328
Email: cm_wb@nic.in
2. Chief Secretary
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Building, Kolkata, West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: + 91 33 22144328
Email: chiefsec@wb.gov.in
3. Additional Chief Secretary (Home)
Government of West Bengal
Writers’ Building, Kolkata, West Bengal
INDIA
Email: sechome@wb.gov.in
4. Director General & Inspector General of Police
Government of West Bengal
West Bengal Police Directorate
Writers’ Building, Kolkata, West Bengal
INDIA
Fax: + 91 33 22145486
Email: dgp_westbengal@gmail.com
5. Superintendent of Police
Murshidabad
BMP Police Office
Berhampore 742101, Murshidabad District
West Bengal State
INDIA
6. Mr P. Chidambaram
Home Minister
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block, New Delhi 110003
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 23093750 / 23092763
Email: hm@nic.in
7. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
8. Director General BSF
Block 10, CGO Complex
Lodhi Road, New Delhi -03
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 24360016
E-mail: probsf@yahoo.com, bsfhq@bsf.nic.in, bsf_hq@hub.nic.in, bsf_hq@bsf.delhi.nic.in
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
