Human Rights under strain in Tripura: Border restrictions and healthcare neglect raise alarms

Human Rights Research Center
2 days ago
3 min read

May 9, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns the systematic neglect and rights violations faced by border villagers and vulnerable patients in Tripura. Denial of basic services, movement, and healthcare is a grave breach of human dignity and constitutional rights.

In Tripura, India, two unfolding crises have brought serious human rights violations to light, one in the healthcare sector and another along the India-Bangladesh border. Both instances highlight the systematic neglect of vulnerable communities and access to essential rights such as healthcare, freedom of travel, and a decent standard of living.

In Matinagar, West Tripura, 323 Indian people who live in "ahead of the fencing" communities face daily suffering owing to arbitrary limitations on their movement. Border gates, which were originally open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., are now locked unexpectedly and completely after 5 p.m. This has shut off residents' access to key services such as schools, burial grounds, and workplaces. The residents are subjected to rigorous monitoring for routine purchases like as rice and soap, and they are refused access to decent power despite paying their bills. Cyclone-damaged homes remain unrepaired owing to bureaucratic barriers, increasing the community's vulnerability.

Meanwhile, in Agartala, a 54-year-old man, Madan Das, died after allegedly being denied urgent medical attention outside GB Pant Hospital. Media reports indicated that he was ignored by medical staff until the press intervened. His death, which occurred the following day, has raised serious concerns about neglect and discrimination against destitute patients in public hospitals.

Responding quickly, the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC), led by Justice Arindam Lodh, started official investigations into both occurrences. The Commission has requested reports from the District Magistrate and the Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) on the border villages, with a hearing planned for May 21. In the hospital situation, THRC performed a surprise inspection, spoke with officials, and offered standardized treatment approaches, a multi-departmental awareness campaign, and the repurposing of infrastructure to care for unsupervised patients. These actions demonstrate a determined effort to maintain dignity, justice, and accountability for Tripura's most vulnerable groups.

HRRC commends the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) for its efforts in promoting human rights and seeks a more efficient process for delivering justice, free from external interference.

Glossary

Agartala – The capital city of the Indian state of Tripura.
Allegedly – According to what is claimed or reported, but not yet proven.
Arbitrary – Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
Breach – A violation or breaking of a law, duty, or standard.
Bureaucracy – A system of government or management with many rules and officials, often seen as inefficient.
Commend – To praise formally or officially.
Commission – A group of people officially charged with a particular function or task.
Condemn – To express strong disapproval of something, especially on moral grounds.
Constitution – A set of fundamental principles or established precedents by which a state or organization is governed.
Constitutional rights – The rights guaranteed to individuals by a country's constitution, often protecting personal freedoms and legal equality.
Destitute – Lacking the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Dignity – The state of being worthy of honor or respect.
District Magistrate – A senior administrative officer in a district, responsible for law and order and governance.
Fencing – A physical barrier, often made of wire or wood, used to mark or secure boundaries.
Inspection – A careful examination or official review of something.
Intervened – To become involved in a situation to change or influence what is happening.
Matinagar – A village or locality in Tripura, mentioned in the context of border area concerns.
Multi-departmental – Involving several different government departments or agencies.
Occurrences – Events or incidents, especially those that are noteworthy or unusual.
Repurposing – Reusing something for a different purpose than it was originally intended for.
Rigorous – Thorough, careful, and accurate; often involving strict or demanding procedures.
Standardized – Made uniform or consistent by applying a common standard or system.
Strain – Pressure or stress resulting from demanding circumstances.
Tripura – A northeastern Indian state bordering Bangladesh, with a unique socio-political context.
Unsupervised – Without being watched or managed by someone in authority.
Vulnerable – Exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.

Sources

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Human Rights under strain in Tripura: Border restrictions and healthcare neglect raise alarms

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