Farm worker's murder: WB authorities 'haven't acted' on NHRC order for 6 years

Counterview Desk
Human rights defender Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), in a representation to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson, recalling a complaint he had made to NHRC about the killing of a landless farmer, Akbar Ali, about four years ago, has regretted that “no justice has been extended to the family members of the deceased.”
Despite NHRC directions to the authorities, Roy said, influential persons in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, “are regularly intimidating the family to withdraw the case”, the wife of the deceased with a five-year daughter is “living a life under abject poverty”, and the family has “not receive the prescribed compensation amount” set for the death of the farmer worker.

Text:

Here I want to draw your attention over a complaint by me and which was duly registered in your commission vide NHRC Case No. 1817/25/13/2019 - PF. The complaint was on an incident of brutal killing of a poor, landless, marginalized Muslim youth namely Akbar Ali, aged about 27 belonging from Other Backward Class community of Krishnanagar village under Raninagar Police Station area of Murshidabad district of West Bengal, by the Border Security Force personnel attached with 117 number Battalion of Kaharpara Border Out Post on 31.07.2019.
The victim succumbed to the injuries from severe torture reportedly inflicted by seven to eight BSF personnel under the leadership of the then Company Commander B.G.Setty who were on duty at the time of incident. Just after the killing, local people gheraoed Raninagar police station and after assurance of justice from BDO- Raninagar II Block, Officer in Charge of Raninagar PS and Panchayet members, the gherao was lifted (paper cutting enclosed).
The Commission on their part disposed of the case on 23.12.2019 with a direction to the Secretary, Government of India, North Block New Delhi, where the direction mentioned, “The Complaints be transmitted to the concerned authority for such action as deemed appropriate. The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within 8 weeks associating the complainant/ victim and to inform them of the action taken in the matter.”
But as typical for the authority of their defiance to Commission’s direction, they neither took an action nor informed the same to the victim or complainant within the mentioned time. Four long years have passed after the direction pronounced, no justice has been extended to the family members of the deceased.
Raninagar Police Station initiated a specific case vide Raninagar Police Station Case No. 359/19 dated 31.07.2019 under sections 302/34 of Indian Penal Code against the Kaharpara Company Commander at that time BG Setty and other BSF personnel but in this case too, neither the accused were booked or justice ensured for the family members till date.
In between the complainant, who is the brother of the deceased, faced regular intimidation from the accused BSF personnel, pressurizing him to withdraw the complaint against the accused BSF personnel. He informed the matter to the Superintendent of Police; Murshidabad district on 15.02.2021 but no protection measures have been taken by the police.
It has been reported that the influential persons from the area are regularly intimidating the family to withdraw the case. The wife of the deceased with a 5-year daughter living a life under abject poverty due to the death of the only earning person of the family. The family did not even receive the prescribed compensation amount set for the death of a farmer and for his/ her funeral.

In this context I demand for: Immediate and appropriate action must be taken against the authority who disobeyed the Commission’s directives

Financial compensation must be made to the family members
Commission must direct the associated criminal justice administrator to expedite the proceedings of Raninagar PS Case 350/19
Protection of the family members and witnesses must be guaranteed
Departmental action must be initiated against the involved BSF personnel.

Comments

Designing the edge, erasing the river: Sabarmati Riverfront and the dissonance between ecology and planning

By Mansee Bal Bhargava, Parth Patel Across India, old black-and-white images of the Sabarmati River are often juxtaposed with vibrant photos of the modern Sabarmati Riverfront. This visual contrast is frequently showcased as a model of development, with the Sabarmati Riverfront serving as a blueprint for over a hundred proposed riverfront projects nationwide. These images are used to forge an implicit public consensus on a singular idea of development—shifting from a messy, evolving relationship between land and water to a rigid, one-time design intervention. The notion of regulating the unregulated has been deeply embedded into public consciousness—especially among city makers, planners, and designers. Urban rivers across India are undergoing a dramatic transformation, not only in terms of their land-water composition but in the very way we understand and define them. Here, we focus on one critical aspect of that transformation: the river’s edge.

Top civil rights leader announces plan to lead delegation to Pakistan amidst post-war tensions

By A Representative In a significant move, well-known academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey has announced the plan to send a 22-member delegation to Pakistan to engage in dialogue with its government and civil society. The delegation proposed to go to Pakistan under the banner of Socialist Party (India) as a fact-finding mission to help seek solution to continuing tensions between the two countries over the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack.

J&K's Mallabuchan villagers symbolically cut Off pipeline in protest against ‘water injustice’

By A Representative In a striking act of peaceful protest, residents of Mallabuchan village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district symbolically disconnected the Ahmadpora-Tangmarg water pipeline on Thursday, denouncing decades of official neglect and violation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) norms.

Few Bollywood actors possessed Sanjeev Kumar's subtle detachment and sensitivity

By Harsh Thakor On 9th July, we celebrated the 85th birthday of legendary Hindi film actor, Sanjeev Kumar., known as Haribhai Jariwala. Sanjeev Kumar penetrated zones of versatility or acting craft, almost unparalleled in Hindi cinema. He was one one the very few who touched horizons of true genius, transcending regions in acting virtually unexplored. Rarely did any artist get stuck as thickly into the skin of the character. The diversity of expressions in his moves reminded one of the different water colours of a painting. Sanjeev manifested the ventures of an artist to tap the regions unexplored. He simply defied all conventions of Bollywood, making path breaking experiments. His acting had a subtle degree detachment and sensitivity, which few Bollywood actors ever possessed. He may not have possessed the drop dead looks of a Dev Anand, Dharmendra or Sashi Kapoor or the professionalism or star charisma of an Amitabh Bachan, Rajesh Khanna or Shah Rukh Khan. However in pure acting...

Relevance of historical foot marches like Dandi and Salt march in achieving developmental goals in India

By Bharat Dogra India has a great tradition of organizing foot marches, including some which become historically very important, the most obvious example being the Dandi Salt March under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi which is a very important chapter in the freedom movement of India.

Primary sources of the underground Naxalite movement (1965–71): An analytical compilation

By Harsh Thakor* Voices from the Underground: Select Naxalite Documents (1965–71) is a compilation of documents and writings related to the Naxalite movement, spanning the period between 1965 and 1992. The collection includes materials not widely available through mainstream publishers and often considered controversial by the state. It is divided into two sections and contains eighteen documents authored by individuals associated with the movement.

A healthier model for goat-based livelihoods in remote Madhya Pradesh villages

By Bharat Dogra While buffaloes and cows often receive greater attention in animal husbandry-related government development schemes, goats remain vital for poorer households. Therefore, enhancing goat-based livelihoods is especially important for marginalized communities—particularly when such efforts reduce villagers' costs and lower goat mortality rates. One promising strategy involves training local villagers, especially women, to provide essential veterinary services. A welcome byproduct of this is that several women gain a respected source of income within their own villages.

Ecological alarm over pumped storage projects in Western Ghats: Policy analyst writes to PM

By A Representative In a detailed letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, energy and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has raised grave concerns over the escalating approval and construction of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) across India’s ecologically fragile river valleys. He has warned that these projects, if pursued unchecked, could result in irreparable damage to the country’s riverine ecology, biodiversity hotspots, and forest wealth—particularly in the Western Ghats.

Guru Dutt: The melancholy visionary who redefined Indian cinema

By Harsh Thakor* Iconic Indian director and actor Guru Dutt was just 39 years old when he died in 1964, but he left behind a cinematic legacy that continues to resonate. On July 9, the world marks the birth centenary of this cinematic wizard. Guru Dutt, whose name epitomises the golden era of Indian cinema, left an indelible mark with his talents as a director, producer, and actor. He elevated the art of filmmaking to new heights, bringing innovative storytelling to unexplored domains. Like the protagonist of "Pyaasa", true recognition came to Dutt only after his passing. Cinema enthusiasts continue to wonder what more he might have achieved had he lived longer.

Search This Blog