Indo-Bangladesh border: Living beyond barbed-wire fencing, natives cry for help

SILCHAR: It is a Catch-22 situation for the natives of the land living beyond the barbed-wire fencing on the Karimganj stretch of Indo-Bangladesh border. They are Indians — both Hindus and Muslims — yet they feel like aliens on their own land.

"Our condition is no better than surviving in chains, unable to move, work and even cultivate our lands — only source of our livelihood. Let us live or starve to die," cried Surya Mani Das, a middle-aged resident.

Lockdown is over, yet they are locked. One cannot but have pity on these unfortunate Indians of the greatest democratic country of the world that celebrated its 72 years of Independence.

It is the voice of the 700 inhabitants of Lafaishal, Serulbag, Jagannath, Chandsrikona and other villages.

With sunken cheeks, wrinkled face, greying hair and rickety body, Safiqul Islam leaning over the fencing said, "We have never come across such difficult and unimaginable times. If we can't go to our land and cultivate it, nothing will be there for us to eat and live."

Moved by the pitiable condition of these people, Mission Ranjan Das, former BJP MLA and Chairman of the Assam Industrial Development Corporation, wrote to the BSF Commandant of the area, for adopting appropriate measures to provide relief to the residents without compromising with the security and integrity of the country. He highlighted their plight after meeting and interacting with them on Friday last. His stress was on relaxation of the embargo to allow the people to move and work within the confines of their land. Mission Ranjan Das, in his letter, said that since the beginning of the lockdown, they were put under restrictions. Now that unlock-4 has begun, they should be free to move like any other Indians.

Taking a humanitarian view, members of the Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari Karimganj unit and other NGOs have stood by these people living on the edge. They offered relief materials so that they can have a square meal a day. They are virtually living from hand to mouth.

But, senior journalist Arup Roy who is also coordinator of the Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari unit, posed, "How long will the NGOs continue to help them?"

He is hopeful that the BSF will take a sympathetic approach with respect to these unfortunate Indian citizens.

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