India: The Killing of Jahanur Haque: Impunity Prevails in West Bengal

According to credible documentation received by OMCT from its partner organisations, Mr. Haque was apprehended by BSF personnel near Border Pillar No. 929 while on his way to water his crops. He was reportedly stripped to verify his religion and, upon identifying him as Muslim, was shot twice at close range—first in the chest and then in the head—by the Company Commander of Gitaldaha Border Outpost and another unidentified BSF officer. Despite his critical injuries, no medical attention was provided, and his body was left exposed in the open for hours as family and villagers were denied access. An FIR has been registered, yet no meaningful investigation or action has followed.

This shocking incident is not an isolated case. West Bengal’s border districts are among the most militarised and economically deprived areas in India. For years, residents—predominantly from Muslim, Dalit, and Adivasi communities—have faced harassment, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings by border forces. The deployment of the BSF deep within Indian territory has disrupted civilian life and created a climate of fear, where daily access to land, work, or even food is conditional on navigating military checkpoints, identity checks, and often, intimidation. The failure to conduct prompt, impartial, and effective investigations into such deaths violates India’s internatioanl obligations as has been pointed out by the UN Human Rights Committee.

The circumstances of Mr. Haque’s death—his religious identity, his marginalised socio-economic background, and the deliberate manner of his killing—raise alarming concerns about targeted violence and institutional bias. Equally disturbing are the procedural failures that followed: the delay in medical examination, the failure to conduct a full autopsy, and the absence of timely action by local authorities.

We call on the domestic authorities to

1. Ensure an independent, impartial, and prompt investigation into the killing of Mr. Jahanur Haque, including by identifying and prosecuting all responsible BSF personnel before a civilian court;
2. Guarantee adequate compensation and rehabilitation for Mr. Haque’s family, including access to legal, medical, and psychosocial support;
3. Publicly release the findings of any inquiries, including the autopsy and inquest reports, to ensure transparency and trust in the justice process;
4. Issue binding recommendations to end the routine use of force by BSF personnel against civilians and to ensure compliance with national and international standards prohibiting torture and ill-treatment;
5. Ratify the UN Convention against Torture and uphold its obligations under the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
6. Urgently enact anti-torture legislation and establish effective oversight of security forces operating in sensitive regions.