Lost Lives, Lingering Pain: From 2021 to 2024; Families of Sitalkuchi Firing Victims Continue to Yearn for Justice

“If not anyone else, Allah will give us justice!” said Hamidul Miya’s sister with tears glistening in her eyes, as she clutched her brother's infant tightly to her chest, seeking solace in the warmth of the innocent child. As we spoke to her, she softly dabbed the corner of her eyes with her worn-out dupatta, her voice trembled with emotion as even after three years she found it difficult to wrap her brain around the tragedy that had befallen her family. The memory of Hamidul Miya, 31 years old, remains etched in her heart, a painful reminder of the fateful day when he along with three others lost their lives to bullets fired by the CISF during the infamous Sitalkuchi firing incident in Bengal during the fourth phase of assembly elections on April 10, 2021.

Hamidul's young son, born just a month after his father's tragic demise, has never known the embrace of a father's love. At three years old, he wanders through life without a paternal figure to guide him. Meanwhile, his six-year-old sister, though occasionally curious about her absent father, often retreats into the simplicity of childhood. As the sole provider for her fatherless children, Hamidul's widow shoulders the weight of responsibility thrust upon her by fate. From the confines of her once-sheltered existence, she now ventures into the world as a home-guard, a job that she got as a part of her compensation package. Hamidul's sister, who cherished her brother dearly, remains at a loss for words even after three years have passed since his untimely death. Tragically, just three months after Hamidul's death, his father succumbed to the weight of sorrow, leaving the family reeling from yet another loss.

"We've surrendered in our quest for justice. It's a costly battle, beyond the means of a struggling family like ours. With empty stomachs and no means to afford legal fees, how can we pursue justice? The media visits us before every election, offering hope that soon fades into despair. Like I said, only Allah can give us justice," lamented Sakina, Hamidul's sister through tearful sobs. Though years have come and gone, time has failed to heal their wounds, the passage of time has only deepened the longing for justice, to bring closure to the unbearable pain of losing a beloved brother “while he was standing in the queue to cast his vote”.

The story of sorrow and despair, with families burdened by unimaginable grief and hardship amidst poverty and the daunting pursuit of justice, is not unique to Hamidul's household. All four families still grapple with overwhelming sorrow in the aftermath of the killings. As the years pass from 2021 to 2024, from the Bengal assembly elections to the upcoming general elections, the families are plagued by haunting memories every election cycle. They are nonchalant to go back to the same polling booth, stained by the blood of their loved ones. Inside ‘Amtoli Madhyamik Sikhha Kendra’ school in Jorpatki, Sitalkuchi, where the firing took place, now stands a memorial  with the names of the four deceased engraved as ‘martyrs’.

"Life has taken a dark turn for us. We're struggling to make ends meet. My elder brother supported my education and everything else, but since his passing, I can barely afford the fees," said Noor Alam, the brother of the late Maniruzzaman Mian. At 28, Maniruzzaman was a migrant worker who used to work in Gangtok. He returned to his village, Jorpatki, in Bengal's Sitalkuchi, to exercise his democratic right by casting his vote. Tragically, he became a victim of the CISF's gunfire, leaving behind a helpless family shattered by his loss. “I will not cast my vote this year. What is a point of casting my vote if I have to lose my life?” questioned Noor.

The situation at Maniruzzaman Mian's home is far from conducive. At just 28 years old, he left behind an ailing father and a mother. His widow, who received a job as a home guard as part of her compensation, has moved out of her in-laws' house, taking their children with her. "My daughter-in-law left our home. Despite her job and earnings, we receive no support or contact from her, and we're unable to see our grandchildren," said Maniruzzaman Mian's mother, her voice trembling with emotion. The memory of his passing haunts her like a recurring nightmare, especially during election seasons. She has lost faith in the electoral process and tries to distance herself from it as much as possible.

Samiul Haque, another victim of the 2021 Sitalkuchi firing, faces similar hardships as the other affected families. His relatives did not speak with us, expressing frustration at the cycle of media attention during elections followed by neglect afterward. Like other families seeking compensation from the Election Commission, they abandoned their pursuit due to mounting legal fees, further adding to their despair and reluctance to continue the fight for justice.

During the fourth phase of the Assembly elections on April 10, 2021, in Jorpatki, Sitalkuchi, six CISF personnel allegedly fired shots near booth 126 at the Amtali Madhyamil Siksha Kendra, resulting in the deaths of Maniruzzaman Mian (28), Hamidul Mian (31), Samiul Haque (21), and Nur Alam Mian (20). The incident caused tension in the area and prompted an inquiry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the CISF, accusing them of being "trigger happy," leading to a CID investigation ordered by the state. A memorial was erected by the locals in memory of the “martys” who lost their lives to the indiscriminate firing unleashed by the CISF forces in that very school compound.

Subsequently, the Mathabhanga sub-divisional court granted interim bail to the six accused CISF personnel after they appeared for a bail hearing. The firing incident during polling in Cooch Behar district garnered national attention and fueled a heated exchange between the TMC and the BJP. The Sitalkuchi firing incident hold grounds on today’s date, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections because Debashis Dhar, who was the Superintendent of Police of Cooch Behar during the 2021 is now listed as a Lok Sabha candidate for the BJP, contesting against Trinamool Congress MP Satabdi Roy from Birbhum.

The imprints of the Sitalkuchi firing incident looms large over the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the scars of loss and injustice remain fresh in the hearts of the affected families.