Dinhata 2 block development officer in Cooch Behar district has said the BSF promised that there would be no restriction on farmers cultivating jute on agriculture land located before the fences on the India-Bangladesh border and the movement of residents near the frontier at any time of the day.
BDO Rashmidipta Biswas made the announcement after a meeting of senior officials of the administration and the BSF on Sunday.
“We held a meeting with BSF officers in my office (at Sahebganj in Dinhata) today (Sunday) over the allegation levelled by farmers who live close to the border that the BSF is not letting them sow jute seeds in their fields. The BSF officers have assured us that no farmer will be prevented from carrying out agricultural activities, including jute cultivation,” said Biswas.
A few days ago, some farmers from the bordering villages had approached the Dinhata subdivisional officer with a complaint that the BSF was preventing them from sowing jute seeds on plots ahead of the border fences.
The BSF’s apparent contention was that jute plants reduced visibility on the border. The farmers said the restriction would affect their livelihood.
“Chiefs of a number of panchayats in the block were present at the meeting, along with representatives of police and the subdivisional administration. Other BDOs of the Dinhata subdivision will also hold similar meetings soon. The idea is to confirm that the BSF does not resort to highhandedness or impose any restriction at the local level without a proper written order by senior officials of the force or the Union home ministry,” said a senior official of the district administration.
The prompt move of the administration, sources said, follows specific instructions from chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Last year, Mamata had objected to the Union home ministry’s decision to increase the jurisdiction of the BSF from 15km to 50km within the Indian territory from the border. She wrote to the Prime Minister with a plea to revoke the decision.
At a state-level administrative meeting held earlier this year, the chief minister asked the district magistrates and superintendents of police of the bordering districts to take immediate steps if the BSF exceeded its brief.
BDO Biswas said the BSF officials had been asked to hold talks with elected representatives of the bordering villages in case any confusion cropped up.
“We are happy to hear that the farmers can cultivate jute at the border. It is indeed good news as hundreds of farmers were worried,” said Mumtaz Begum, the pradhan of Gobrachara-Nayarhat, a panchayat that covers bordering villages of the block.
The administration also informed that there was no restriction by the BSF on the movement of villagers living near the frontier.
A group of BSF personnel had allegedly assaulted a youth of Konamukta near the border in Dinhata, for being out of his home after 6pm.
“We are clarifying to the residents that there is no such restriction on their movement. The BSF has been asked to act according to rules and refrain from preventing the movement of villagers,” said a police officer.
The administration’s initiative has started bearing results, said the villagers. “Over the past few days, the highhandedness of the BSF has considerably come down. Unlike earlier times, they are not stopping us in evening hours,” said Saddam Hossain, a resident of Konamukta.
Udayan Guha, the Trinamul MLA of Dinhata, said: “This is what we want. People should be allowed to lead their life freely near the boundary. We want peace to prevail there. The BSF should confirm there is no smuggling or infiltration through the border.”
