Eight people have been arrested in connection with the death of Mafiq, father of CJP worker Sheikh Abdul Hafeez, in West Bengal’s Bankura district. The family has alleged that BJP workers assaulted Mafiq, while police have rejected the allegations and said the investigation is continuing.
According to the family, Mafiq was attacked on August 13. The family alleged that he was associated with the CJP’s ‘Fix the School’ campaign and had recorded a video showing the poor condition of a school in the area.
The family claimed that later that evening, some armed people entered their house and assaulted Mafiq.
Mafiq died on the night of August 15, two days after the alleged attack. Following his death, the family linked the incident to an alleged political attack and demanded action. Police subsequently began an investigation and have arrested eight people so far.
CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka visited Bankura on Monday and met Sheikh Abdul Hafeez’s family. Ranka alleged that Hafeez’s father died after being assaulted by BJP workers. He also questioned the role of the police in the case.
Ranka claimed that the family had previously received threats but that the local police had not taken effective action on those complaints. He said the situation could have been different if the police had taken the family’s complaints seriously in time.
The allegations have been made by the political party and the family. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the cause of Mafiq’s death.
According to information provided by the family and the CJP, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez travelled to Delhi on July 18 to participate in a protest at Jantar Mantar. After returning, he became involved in the party’s ‘Fix the School’ campaign.
The family alleged that Hafeez subsequently began receiving threats from local BJP MLA Nirmal Dhara and his supporters. The family said the attack on Mafiq took place amid this political activity.
These allegations have not been independently verified. Police are investigating the alleged attack, the political dispute and their possible connection with Mafiq’s death.
West Bengal Police have rejected some of the allegations made by the family and the CJP. According to police, Mafiq did not suffer serious or life-threatening injuries in the alleged attack. Officials said he had sustained minor injuries and received one stitch.
Police said Mafiq’s blood pressure suddenly fluctuated on the morning of August 15. He was subsequently admitted to Bardhaman Medical College. Doctors examined him and said he did not have life-threatening injuries. He died later that night.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and the alleged assault.
Police have arrested a total of eight people in the case. Three are named accused, while five were identified as suspects during the investigation. After being produced in court, the arrested accused were sent to eight days of police custody.
Police are investigating the roles of other people allegedly involved in the attack. According to officials, two other accused are still being sought.
During the investigation, police are examining the location of the incident, statements from the family and available evidence.
A police officer has also been deployed at Hafeez’s house for security. CJP leaders have expressed concern about the family’s safety.
The CJP’s ‘Fix the School’ campaign forms part of the background to the case. The campaign raises issues related to the condition of government schools, the education system and facilities available to students.
CJP leader Abhijit Deepke launched the campaign on Saturday from his village in Maharashtra’s Hingoli. He expressed concern about the condition of government schools and said that children from poor families suffer the most from government neglect.
Deepke also demanded a cap on private school fees. He said the rising financial burden of education is a challenge for poor and middle-class families.
The Bankura incident has been linked to the campaign because the family claims that Mafiq had recorded a video showing the poor condition of a school. Police are investigating whether the alleged attack was related only to the school video or whether a wider political dispute was also involved.
The allegations against BJP workers have led to a political dispute over the incident. CJP has demanded action against those responsible.
CJP leaders have said that targeting a person for political activity or for raising public issues is a matter of concern.
Police have said that the investigation is being conducted on the basis of the law and available evidence. Following the arrests, investigators are examining the connection between the alleged attack and Mafiq’s death.
The cause of Mafiq’s death is a key part of the investigation. The family claims that his health deteriorated after the alleged assault and that he died two days later. Police have said that hospital examinations found no life-threatening injuries and that his blood pressure suddenly changed before his death.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the death alongside the alleged assault.
Police have taken eight accused into custody and are searching for two others. Security has been provided to the family as the investigation continues.
The police investigation is examining the circumstances of the alleged attack and Mafiq’s death, while the family and CJP have made allegations linking the incident to political activity.
