NEW DELHI – India’s border forces are under fire by human rights organisations yet again for alleged extra-judicial killings and torture. In a new report, Human Rights Watch asked the Indian government to investigate and prosecute BSF forces for rights violations along the Bangladesh border. India maintains that it keeps a watch on and takes action against such violations.
“The Border Security Force has reverted to its previous tactics of unilaterally punishing suspects, defying orders from Delhi issued last year to exercise restraint and protect the right to life,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “But the central government is also responsible, since it has failed to hold perpetrators accountable. Justice is the best deterrent against further violations.”
There have been repeated complaints by the Bangladesh authorities about Indian excesses, particularly after incidents in December, 2011, when BSF forces were alleged to have killed what they called “intruders.” However, both the BSF and the Indian government maintain that these persons trying to cross the bird illegally are not innocent persons.
In a statement on December 20, the MEA spokesperson had said responding to reports of deaths of Bangladeshis on the border by BSF, “To prevent loss of lives along the border areas, BSF has exercised the utmost restraint and has resorted to firing in self defence only in rare cases. India has taken various steps, including strict control on firing, introduction of non-lethal weapons, round-the-clock domination and intensive patrolling. It has also imposed night time restrictions on the movement of people in the border areas.”
“Unfortunately, this policy of restraint has emboldened criminal elements who have stepped up their attacks on BSF personnel deployed along the border in order to facilitate their illegal activities. A number of attacks have been recorded on BSF personnel and posts along the India-Bangladesh border over the last few months. ”
The MEA said Bangladeshi miscreants had pelted the BSF forces with stones and in one incident even tried to drag them across the border. They claimed the BSF only fired in self-defence afterwards.
