In the first week of January 2023, we reported how the heavy-handedness of central security forces led to the death of a pastor fleeing persecution from Bangladesh. But it seems that even Indian residents in Mizoram are now at the receiving end of security forces’ atrocities, leaving them with no option but to appeal to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, requesting them to intervene in the matter.
The harassment and misconduct on the part of BSF officials started for the residents of Silsury village in the Mamit district in September 2022, when a new commander joined the border security camp there.
Tired of the harassment, residents organised a peaceful protest on January 28 and submitted a petition to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 30.
“It started around four months back when Sat Pal Singh was appointed as the camp commander. Ever since he came, we have been facing a lot of problems. It is even difficult for us to have access to our basic needs like rice and timber,” Paro Chakma, a resident of Silsury village, told EastMojo.
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Paro and other residents informed EastMojo about a check gate between Old Silsury Village and New Silsury village. While the check gate has never been a problem in the past, goods such as rice and timber are allegedly being seized ever since the new commander was appointed.
Paritosh Chakma, a human rights activist and native of Silsury village, filed the petition to the PMO and MHA’s office. “The Village Council Presidents, NGOs and village intellectuals held a meeting with the company commander, Silsury BOP, 38th Bn. BSF Sat Pal Singh but he was non-cooperative,” Chakma said.
So, the villagers staged a protest in front of the BSF camp on January 28.
Thereafter, the matter was taken up on January 30 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BSF Director General (DG) Dr Sujoy Lal Thaosen, and Inspector General (IG), of BSF Mizoram & Cachar Frontier Binay Kumar Jha.
“If the harassment by the BSF does not stop soon, we shall file a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) or the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in New Delhi. Further, until Sat Pal Singh remains at Silsury BOP, the villagers have unanimously decided to boycott any civic action programme that may be conducted by the BSF. Such civic action programmes are meaningless when the villagers face daily harassment,” he told EastMojo.
Expressing concern for the people of his hometown, Chakma said, “The combined population of Silsury East and West village councils is around 5,000 tribal people. They are dependent on jhum cultivation, broom cultivation, farming and localised trade and commerce.”
Silsury is remote and road connectivity is poor. Despite high risks due to bad roads, shopkeepers and businessmen bring their goods from far away places like Silchar, Tripura, and Aizawl to cater to the needs of the local people. Now, the residents feel helpless with the BSF personnel seizing their goods, including foodgrains (rice bags), groceries, blankets and other items at the BOP check gate located in the middle of the village.
Residents also allege that businessmen from neighbouring villages such as Hnahva, Begabekya, Marpara etc also face harassment at the BSF check gate when they come to sell goods at the Silsury weekly market. Carrying farm produce, firewood and bamboo is also facing restrictions now.
“This is affecting the livelihood of the people. The unfriendly conduct of the BSF is also creating tension in the locality, which is affecting the normal life of the people.”
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According to the protestors, they are victims of the India-Bangladesh border fencing but they have not been provided resettlement and rehabilitation by the Central Government and hence, the majority could not relocate inside the border areas. The BSF BOP is situated in the middle of the Silsury village and they have erected a security check post in the middle of the village.
“Chakmas are tribals and the majority of locals are poor. The local shopkeepers and other traders of Silsury village bring daily-use items or groceries, medical supplies etc for sale as they have shop/trade licenses but the BSF is seizing their goods at the BOP check post. This is impacting the livelihood of the villagers. The BSF are also seizing timber, bamboo, and logs/wood which are cut from private gardens and meant for private use. Even firewood, which is necessary for cooking, has been seized. This is illegal and nothing but harassment to the simple, peace-loving villagers. The Company Commander of Silsury BOP does not treat the elected presidents of the village council/court of Silsury East and West and other village intellectuals with respect. He does not cooperate with the local NGOs either. So, we demand his immediate transfer because his high-handedness and anti-people attitude is creating tension between the BSF and the villagers and there is a sense of insecurity in the minds of the villagers,” said Prodip Chakma, Village Council President, Silsury West.
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In the petition signed by village council members and representatives of BJP and MNF parties, they state, “We the elected Village Council Presidents (VCPs) of Salisbury East and West, NGOs and intellectuals of Silsury village under Mamit district of Mizoram are writing to seek urgent interventions to stop regular harassment of the innocent Chakma tribal villagers of Silsury village situated on the India-Bangladesh border, by the 38th Bn BS posted at Silsury BOP in Mamit district, Mizoram. The current company commander at Silsury BOP is Mr Sat Pal Singh.”
“This kind of harassment on a daily basis is unacceptable. The responsibility of the BSF is to protect the borders and check the entry of illegal foreigners and smuggling, not to harass Indian citizens living at the borders. By seizing goods including rice bags brought by local shopkeepers/traders, the BSF jawans are denying the right to livelihood and food security of the border people. By preventing the transportation of bamboo and timber for personal use (construction/repairing of houses) and firewood for cooking, the BSF is committing gross violation of the human rights of the border villagers. They are making the life of the simple tribal villagers extremely difficult and chaotic,” they wrote.
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