Justice (retired) Arindam Lodh of THRC take cognizance of human rights violations of Matinagar people, posts the matter for next hearing on May 21

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 7, 2025

Justice (retired) Arindam Lodh, newly appointed chairperson of Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has taken cognizance of a case of grave human rights violation of 323 Indian citizens living beyond barbed wire fencing in Matinagar area in Sepahijala district of Bangladesh. Having taken formal cognizance Justice (retired) Lodh has posted the matter for hearing on May 21 with directions to the DM (Sepahijala) and CMD of TSECL to file a detailed report.

The copy of the border issued by the member secretary of the THRC Udit Chowdhury said that altogether 323 Indian citizens living beyond the barbed wire fencing in bordering Matinagar had complained of grave human rights violation, saying that despite being regular consumers they are now being deprived of electricity supply. After the construction of border fencing the border gates used to remain open from 6-00 AM to 8-00 PM and this posed no difficulty. But of late the gates have started being shut two or three times a day and are completely closed at 5-00 PM.

This new timing worsened by the suspension of electricity supply despite regular payment of bills have emerged as a major livelihood problem for them. Even the students can not attend school on time and in times of health emergencies serious patients can not be brought in for treatment or admission to hospitals or health centres. The signatories to the letter of complaint alleged that they are now allowed to purchase and install electric items in their houses from across the fencing and they are required forcibly to account for use of shampoos, soaps, quantity of rice, cereals and pulses purchased and consumed because of the new restrictions. Even they can not repair houses in case the houses or residential premises are destroyed by natural calamities and can not visit cemetery where grave-yards of their dear ones lie.

Justice Lodh said in his order sheet that apparently there are cases of grave violations of human rights. He has ordered the matter to be posted for hearing on May 21 with direction to the DM (Sepahijala) and CMD (TSECL) to file their responses to the allegations in writing on the date of next hearing of the matter on the scheduled date.

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