New Delhi: A senior leader of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has issued a ten-day ultimatum to the West Bengal government, demanding the immediate arrest of all suspects involved in the fatal assault of a party volunteer’s father in Bankura district. CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka visited Karishunda village in the Indas block alongside party delegates to meet the bereaved family and consult with the victim’s son, Abdul Hafiz, whose father succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent home attack.
The deceased, identified as Janab Mafik, died at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital following a severe assault that took place two days earlier. According to the party, Hafiz had recently returned from demonstrations in New Delhi and had visited Karisunda West Para Primary School on August 13 to record infrastructure deficiencies under the party’s statewide “School Thik Karo” campaign. The family alleges that a group of assailants subsequently stormed their residence and beat Mafik to death in retaliation for highlighting conditions at the local school.
Addressing reporters at the village, Ranka demanded full security for the family and called for a court-monitored investigation into the conduct of personnel at the Indas police station. He stated that the family had declined standard government compensation, requesting instead that an international-standard educational facility be established in the victim’s memory. The CJP announced financial support for the family and warned that party cadres would surround the district administration headquarters and launch widespread demonstrations across the state if all demands are not met within ten days.
The incident has ignited widespread political friction across West Bengal. Opposition figures, including Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Shatarup Ghosh, visited the family to demand substantive support rather than mere payouts, while levelling accusations against local political cadres. State authorities and ruling party representatives have rejected allegations of political affiliation regarding the attack, confirming that law enforcement swiftly initiated action under a formal complaint filed by the victim’s wife, Hasina Begum. Local police have arrested eight suspects and produced them before the Bishnupur sub-divisional court as the investigation continues.
