West Bengal: BSF personnel brutally torture Muslim man in custody: Rights activist moves NHRC
Location: West Bengal
In a recent incident, Johirul Islam, a 30-year-old man, was illegally apprehended from his house by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and was brutally tortured in their custody.
The details of the incident emerged after rights activist Kirity Roy wrote a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking an independent and non-partisan investigation of the incident which occurred on 21 February this year.
The incident occurred at Purba Sahebganj Border Out Post, Battalion number 129, and the Company Commander Bijay Kumar was allegedly involved in the torture.
The victim’s family lodged a complaint with the Sahebganj Police Station, but the concerned police did not register any case against the perpetrators. This violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Apex Court guidelines in the case of Lalita Kumari vs. State of Uttar Pradesh has been alleged by Kirity Roy who is the Secretary of MASUM and National Convener of PACTI.
The torture was so severe that Johirul is still unable to walk properly due to severe pain in the lower back portion of his body, Roy alleged.
The family of Johirul is very poor, and he is the only earning member of the family. As a result of the torture, he is now unable to work, and his family’s livelihood is in jeopardy.
“The incident violated Article 6 (Right to work) and Article 9 (Right to social security) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It also violates Goal number 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to provide access to justice for all,” Roy said in his letter.
“The incident reflects the entrenched impunity in the criminal justice system and systemic attack on religious minorities, especially Muslims by public officials,” he said
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