National Human Right Commission

To

The Chairman

National Human Right Commission

Manav Adhikar Bhawan, Block-C, GPO Complex, INA, New Delhi-11002325 August 2015

Superintendent of Police—Coochbehar--- Ref No. MASUM/SP/CBR/24/4124/15

Respected Sir

Here I am referring one incident of heinous assault by the perpetrator Border Security Force (BSF) jawan upon the victim boy namely Master Samiruddin Seikh without any valid reason. The victim resides at village-Sukarurkuthi, Police Station – Dinhata, District – Cooch Behar, West Bengal.

On 25.3.2015 at about 9 am the victim boy who is only 15 years old went to Bhatiyar More (crossing) under the jurisdiction of Dinhata Police Station to play with his friends but he came under the severe assault in the hands of the perpetrator BSF jawan for the reason that he could not hear the call of the BSF jawan. The victim boy was brutally assaulted by the BSF jawan. The victim boy was under treatment in hospital for three days. Still his physical condition is not well but the family is unable to bear further medical cost for him due to financial crisis. The Superintendent of Police, Cooch Behar did not make any response to the written complaint against the perpetrator BSF jawan submitted by the victim’s family.

In this case the perpetrator BSF personnel engaged into perpetrating torture and custodial violence upon an innocent minor boy. The act of theBSFpersonal was not only savage and brute but also against the national and international legal provisions. The torturous act was in contravention of Article 19 and 37 of UN ConventiononRights of the Children; where the convention has stated that the right of everychildto be protected from being hurt or badly treated and not to be punished in a cruel or hurtful way and India has ratified the convention way back.Besides that, Articles 2, 5, 6, and 8 of the UN Code of Conduct by the Law Enforcement Officials has been blatantly violated by the perpetratorBSF jawan.

Hence I seek your urgent action in this case with the following demands:-

• An impartial enquiry by one neutral investigation agency must be directed in this case
• The accused BSF jawanmust be immediately be apprehended and must be prosecuted in open court of law.
• The accused BSF jawan must be punished in accordance with law.
• The victim must be provided with adequate compensation, protection and immediate relief for his medical treatment.

Thanking You,

Yours truly

Kirity Roy

Secretary, MASUM
National Convener- PACTI

Name and details of the victim: - Master Samiruddin Seikh son of Mr. Sahar Ali, aged about 15 years. He lives in village – Sukarurkuthi, Police Station – Dinhata, District – Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India.

Name and Details of Perpetrators: - Mr. Manoj Kumar, Border Security Force (BSF)Jawan of Karola Border Out Post, Company-A, Battalion-124 under Dinhata Police Station.

Date and Time of the incident: -On 25.3.2015 at about 9 am.

Place of the incident: - At “Bhatiyar More (crossing)” near Border Pillarno. - 934(5) S under Dinhata Police Station.

Fact Finding Details: -

It is revealed during the fact finding that Mr.Sahar Ali is aged about 59 years and he is a resident of village – Sukarurkuthi. He is a farmer by profession and only earning member in the family. His family consists of his wife Ms. Rahima Bibi and 6 children. The victim Master Samiruddin Seikh is one of the children of Mr. Sahar Ali and he is about 15 years only.

The victim Master Samiruddin Seikh studies in a Madrasa and he stays there. He comes to home for 1-2 days in every month. On 24.3.2015 he came to home from Madrasa. On 25.3.2015 at about 9am went to Bhatiyar More (crossing)to play with his friends. At that time his father Mr. Sahar Ali was sipping teaina tea stall atBhatiyar More (crossing). At that time One BSF jawan named Mr. Manoj Kumar under Karola Border Out-Post, Battalion No. – 124 called up the victim boy. But due to some distance he could not hear his call. Then Mr. Manoj Kumar got angry and came near to the victim boy. He caught hold of the victim boy and started to beat himindiscriminately by fists and kicks. Seeing the incident Mr. Sahar Ali and some people present on the spot rushed to save the victim boy and requested the perpetrator BSF jawan to leave the victim boy. But the BSF jawan did not pay heed to their request. Then he thrashed the victim boy on the road while kicking him repeatedly on his abdomen. After 10-15 minutes continuous torture Mr. Manoj Kumar left the place while the victim boy almost lost his sense. The whole incident was eye witnessed by the father of the victim and other people.

Then Mr. Sahar Ali took the victim to Dinhata Sub Divisional Hospital inan ambulance. The doctor transferred him to Cooch Behar MJN Hospital for CT scan on that day. After CT scan the victim was taken back to Dinhata Sub Divisional Hospital and he was under treatment in the said hospital for 3 days.

On 29.3.2015 the victim returned to his home but still his health condition is not well. The family is unable to bear the cost of his further treatment due to poor financial condition.

On 20.4.2015 Mr. Meher Badsah, being the elder brother of the victim boy lodged written complaint before the Superintendent of Police, Cooch Behar stating the incident of torture upon the victim and in the complaint he prayed for appropriate legal action. But till date there is no action on the complaint.

Victim at HospitalInjury Report

Complaint to Superintendent of Police of Coochbehar