Ashutosh Ranka said that despite the family receiving threats, Bengal police did not take any action.
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leader Ashutosh Ranka has alleged that party worker Sheikh Abdul Hafeez’s father, Mafik, died after being assaulted by BJP workers in Bankura, West Bengal. A CJP delegation visited Mafik family on Monday.
According to the family, Mafik was attacked by a group of people on August 13 and died two days later.
Bankura Police have arrested eight people in connection with the case, including three named accused and five others. Two more suspects are reportedly being traced.
The family alleged that Mafik had participated in the CJP’s ‘School Thik Karo’ (Fix the School) campaign at a government school in his village, Karisunda.
He had recorded a video highlighting the school’s poor condition. The family claimed that armed men entered his house later that evening and assaulted him.
Deepke posted the video made by Abdul, the victim of the attack, on his X account
In the video, Mafik is showing the dirt and infrastructure-related problems of the school
Ranka alleges police inaction
Ranka alleged that Hafeez’s family had received threats but police failed to take timely action.
He said Hafeez had travelled to Delhi on July 18 to participate in a protest at Jantar Mantar and later joined the CJP’s school campaign after returning to Bengal.
Ranka further alleged that local BJP MLA Nirmal Dhara and his supporters had threatened Hafeez following his participation in the campaign.
Ashutosh Ranka had visited the home of activist Sheikh Abdul Hafiz on Monday and met his family
Police reject allegations of serious injuries
West Bengal Police have disputed the allegations, saying Mafik had initially suffered only minor injuries that required stitches.
According to police, Mafik was admitted to Burdwan Medical College on the morning of August 15 after a sudden fluctuation in his blood pressure. Doctors who examined him reportedly found no life-threatening injuries. He died later that night.
Police said the eight arrested accused have been remanded to eight days of police custody. A policeman has also been deployed outside Hafeez’s residence as a security measure.
CJP launched ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign
The incident comes days after CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke launched the ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign from his village in Hingoli, Maharashtra, on Saturday.
Dipke said poor students were suffering because of alleged government negligence and called for measures to improve government schools. He also demanded a cap on private school fees.
