Eight people have been arrested in connection with the death of 51-year-old Sekh Mohammad Mafik in West Bengal’s Bankura district after he was assaulted while trying to protect his son, a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) volunteer.
Mafik’s wife, Hasina Begum, named primary school headmaster Kashinath Dey as the instigator in an FIR filed at Indas police station on August 16, according to Alt News. The complaint also names Sekh Azad, Srikanta Majhi, Rohit Majhi, Oshtom Majhi and Prasanta Majhi, besides eight to 10 unidentified people.
The eight arrested are Azad, Srikanta Majhi, Prasanta Ruidas, Rohit Majhi, Bablu Majhi, Santu Majhi, Tinku Kewra and Oshtom Majhi. The three named in the FIR were remanded in police custody for eight days, while the other five were sent to judicial custody.
According to local sources, Oshtom Majhi is a BJP leader in Karisunda, while several of the other accused are BJP workers or supporters. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, however, said the accused were criminals and “not associated with the BJP”.
The incident took place on August 13 after Mafik’s son, 25-year-old Sekh Abdul Hafeez, returned from a CJP protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and visited Karisunda Paschimpara Primary School as part of the organisation’s “School Thik Karo” campaign.
Hafeez said he wanted to document the school’s poor condition, including its bathroom and classroom ceilings. He alleged that local BJP supporters later entered his home and attacked him. His father intervened and was struck with a tangi, suffering a serious head injury.
Hafeez alleged delays in receiving medical assistance and said he and his father were assaulted again outside a hospital. He also alleged that attackers took his phone and deleted videos documenting the incident.
Mafik was eventually taken to Bardhaman Medical College and Hospital on August 15 after his condition deteriorated. He died around 8 pm that day.
Hafeez has also alleged that BJP workers had threatened him over his association with the CJP before the attack.
The incident has prompted visits by Trinamool Congress, Congress, CJP and AISA representatives, who have demanded action against those responsible. CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka said the organisation stood in solidarity with Hafeez and his family.
Questions have also been raised over whether the attack involved a communal motive, given the family’s Muslim identity.