Citizens in Suspense? Portraying the Voices of the Borderlanders along the Indo-Bangladesh Border
By Nisha Chettri and Nawal K Paswan
The India-Bangladesh border, demarcated by the Radcliffe Line in 1947, stretches around 4,096 km along the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The border fencing was introduced to curb illegal migration and enhance national security. However, in Assam, the fencing has introduced a range of social and economic challenges. Many residents of border villages, especially those living outside the fence or near the zero line, face restricted access to land, mobility, healthcare, and other basic services. Movement across the fence is strictly regulated by the Border Security Force through scheduled gate timings and with mandatory identification checks. While existing literature has largely focused on security concerns, migration, and territorial integrity, there remains a significant gap in understanding the everyday realities of those residing in these fenced border areas. Issues such as disrupted livelihoods, displacement, psychological distress, and limited compensation for land loss are underrepresented in both academic and policy discussions. This study, therefore, explores the socio-economic conditions and human security status of border villages in Assam. Engaging with the conceptual framework of citizenship in suspense, it argues that residents in these zones occupy a paradoxical position where they are legally recognised as citizens but functionally excluded from full political and material inclusion. The paper calls for a rethinking of border governance that goes beyond security logics to address the rights, needs, and uncertainties faced by those who live under constant surveillance but remain beyond protection.