Kolkata/Bankura: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Monday gave Bengal govt a 10-day ultimatum to arrest everyone connected with the murder of Sk Mohammad Mafik (50) father of CJP member Sk Abdul Hafiz. Mafik was assaulted while trying to save his son from alleged BJP supporters on Thursday. He died at Burdwan Medical College on Saturday night. CPM also demanded that attackers be arrested within 10 days.
CJP member Ashutosh Ranka, who met Hafiz at Karishunda village on Monday, said, “We are giving Bengal govt 10 days. All accused should be arrested and sent to jail within this period, and all necessary legal sections should be invoked against them.”
Hafiz had earlier said he faced repeated intimidation from a section of villagers after attending the CJP protest rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He alleged that BJP supporters, mostly locals, attacked their house first on Aug 13. His father was assaulted again that night after Hafiz had him treated at the hospital.
Hafiz said raising questions about lack of infrastructure at a local primary school triggered further attacks on the family. “He said an international-standard school should be built in his father’s name. We appeal to Bengal govt to fulfil this demand,” Ranka said on Monday. The family has also declined govt compensation.
“Abdul lost his father to the politics of hate. His father was murdered by BJP members. Yet Abdul remains determined to improve schools in his locality,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said in a social media post.
Eight people have been arrested so far.
Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called Hafiz to express solidarity with the family. “They are killing protesters. You are like my family, and we will stay with you,” she said. Banerjee instructed Hafiz to hand over copies of necessary documents to Trinamool workers who visited the family and asked him to meet her at her Kalighat residence.
“We know these schools have deteriorated over the years under the previous Trinamool govt. Nobody alleged that BJP is responsible for the bad condition of schools. There is no reason why BJP supporters should try to own up to a fault instead of correcting it. BJP supporters are not ready to accept any demand over condition of schools and hospitals as they know these facilities will not be developed,” said CPM functionary Shatarup Ghosh.
While CJP demanded security for the family and a court-monitored probe into the role of police personnel at Indas police station, Congress alleged that several accused remain at large. “Our district president and local functionaries have already met him. I spoke to Hafiz twice. The family supports Congress. We will provide legal assistance to them and continue to demand justice for the family,” said Pradesh Congress functionary Subhankar Sarkar.
An AISA team also reached his residence to stand in solidarity with the family. RYA and AIPWA members met Hafiz as well, alleging police inaction when he initially tried to lodge a complaint.