Felani's family hopes for justice

They have waited for justice for five years without losing hope of getting it.

On Jan 7, 2011, Bangladeshi girl Felani Khatun was shot dead by India's Border Security Force personnel as she tried to cross the barbed wire fence that Delhi has constructed on its borders with Bangladesh.

The image of Felani, hanging lifeless from the fence, triggered a furore and put the trigger-happy BSF on the docks.

Here was a force that had played such a major role in Bangladesh's Liberation War, but which now stood accused of shooting innocent Bangladeshis without any provocation on the border.

The BSF court trying the case absolved Constable Amiyo Ghosh of charges of murder because he is the one who is said to have fired and killed Felani, as the 15-year-old girl got stuck on the high fence.

But a human rights group in West Bengal, Manabadhikar Suraksha Manch (MASUM) took the case to India's Supreme Court, where the trial is on.

"We hope a fair judgement will come about," says MASUM's chief Kirity Roy.

"She is like our own sister, she speaks our language, why should be killed so mercilessly. She is no terrorist," Kirity Roy told bdnews24.com on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of Felani's murder.

Felani's parents beside her grave. File Photo

Roy's hopes for justice is bolstered by the verdict of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India which has asked the home ministry to pay half a million Indian rupees as compensation to Felani's family.

"That is like accepting that this was a case of murder without provocation," says Suhas Chakma of the Delhi-based Asian Council of Human Rights (ACHR).

On Thursday, Felani's family organised a memorial service, which includes prayers and serving food to the poor and destitute.

Her father Nurul Islam told bdnews24.com that the local administration has helped to organise the memorial service.

He says they have not lost hope. “Since the matter is now at the Indian Supreme Court, we hope to get justice."