Four-and-a-half years after she was allegedly killed by the Border Security Force (BSF) while trying to cross the India-Bangladesh border, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to her family. The Commission observed that “there could be no justification for shooting at an unarmed girl.”
On January 7, 2011, Felani Khatun was shot dead allegedly by a BSF constable while she was entering Bangladesh from Cooch Behar district of West Bengal near Anantapur border point of Bangladesh. The teenager’s body remained hanging on the barbed wire fence for several hours before being brought down. The photographs of the body on the fence circulating in the social media created a huge public outcry in Bangladesh.
While taking cognisance of the BSF’s role in safeguarding the border, the NHRC said the paramilitary force needs to adhere to “some discipline.” “The Commission is very much aware that security forces are discharging a sensitive job at the borders. They must, however, adhere to some discipline and norms while performing such duty,” the NHRC said.
The Commission has asked the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, to submit a compliance report with proof of payment within six weeks. It also stated that the amount may be disbursed through the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
According to senior NHRC officials, the recommendation was made several weeks ago and so far, the Commission has not received any compliance report from the Ministry of Home Affairs. “We learnt about the development after the Human Rights Commission in Bangladesh informed the girl’s family,” S.M. Abraham Lincoln, the advocate who represented the family told The Hindu over telephone from Kurigram district of Bangladesh.
Following the outcry over the killing, the BSF started a General Security Force Court trial against the accused constable, Amiya Ghosh. The trial court in September 2013 found Mr. Ghosh “not guilty.” A revision trial was also conducted on July 3, 2015 and the BSF upheld its earlier verdict and acquitted the constable.
