INDIA/BANGLADESH: Alleged abduction of one Indian farmer by the Bangladesh Rifles

[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 the Bangladesh authorities. We encourage you to send your appeal letters via fax or post to those people. Fax numbers and postal addresses of the Bangladesh authorities are attached below with this appeal. Thank you.]

Dear Friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from its local partner MASUM, a human rights organisation in West Bengal, regarding an alleged abduction of a farmer from Shibnagar village, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India, by the officers of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on 16 February 2007. The victim is believed to be detained at Yusufpur BDR camp in Bangladesh. He has not been produced before any police station or court of Bangladesh so far.

CASE DETAILS:

Mr. Piarul Saikh is a farmer from Dhanirampur village, within the jurisdiction of Jalangi police station of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India. It is alleged that on 16 February 2007 at midnight, he was forcibly abducted by the six officers of Bangladesh Rifles and other Bangladesh citizens from two kilometers away from Pillar No – 72/10, inside the Indian territory. According to the information received, a cap belonging to an officer of BDR was found from the place where Mr. Piarul was allegedly abducted.

To briefly explain the background of the information, after a prolonged discussion between the Indian and Bangladesh authorities on the disputed land of Rajsahi Khas Mahal village and Shibnagar village of Murshidabad district, the land was declared as Indian territory. Mr. Piarul had been cultivating the land of Rajsahi Khas Mahal village from 2005. This fact is also known to local Indian officials. Mr. Piarul is an Indian citizen having the National Identity Card number WB/09/059/039571.

After the victim’s alleged abduction, his father Mr. Muchhahawk Saikh lodged a written complaint at the Jalangi police station on 17 February 2007. In spite of the clear evidence of the involvement of BDR officers, the Jalangi police have not yet taken step to retrieve the victim from the BDR and to investigate the case. It is believed that Mr. Piarul is being held by the officers of BDR at Yusufpur BDR camp in Bangldesh. Now, the victim’s family is desperate to seek help to ensure his safe return home.

In normal cases, if the BDR arrests a foreigner, the person must be produced before the nearest police station. Mr. Piarul therefore should have been produced at the Charghat police station in Rajsahi district in Bangladesh. The AHRC also wants to bring to your notice that unless a formal complaint is made at the local police station, the return of the victim is practically impossible. This is because the record regarding the abductee is vital for the Indian government to claim the return of its citizen from the Bangladesh government. The family, however, claims that the Jalangi police are not showing any interest in helping the family or in ensuring the safe return of the victim.

We were informed that the MASUM has contacted the BDR officials in Bangladesh expressing concern about this case but a senior officer of the BDR denied any knowledge about the case.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

In fact, there have been no proper security measures taken on the part of the Indian government for the villagers residing near the border line. Because the Border Security Force (BSF) of India is located about 10 kilometers away from the actual border line, the villagers living nearer the border and possessing their agricultural land beyond these BSF outposts in fact have no protection. They have often faced abduction and severe torture by the officers of BDR without any reason for years. It is also well-known that the villagers of this area face illegal arrest, torture and abduction from forces belonging to both sides of the border.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the relevant authorities mentioned below, urging for an immediate intervention in this case so that the abductee is safely returned home from Bangladesh.

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