‘No BJP connection’: Suvendu denies party’s role in Bankura ‘assault’ of CJP volunteer's father's death
Times of India | 17 August 2026
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday denied allegations that BJP workers were involved in the 'assault' that led to the death of the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) volunteer in Bankura and assured strict action against those responsible, according to news agency PTI.
CM Adhikari said five people had been named in the FIR, of whom three had already been arrested, while the remaining two would also be arrested.
"Of the five people against whom an FIR has been registered, three have already been arrested. The two others will also be held. There is no BJP connection here. They are all criminals. Action will be taken according to law," Adhikari told the media at the state secretariat Nabanna.
Janab Mafik, the father of CJP volunteer Shaik Abdul Hafeez, died on Saturday after sustaining severe head injuries during an alleged assault at the family’s residence on August 13, according to a statement issued by the party.
The incident took place after Hafeez and his family were allegedly attacked following his visit to a government school in the Karisunda area as part of the CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign to assess its infrastructure.
The CJP, however, alleged that armed men identified as local BJP workers forcibly entered Hafeez’s home later that evening and assaulted him and his father.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said the police should investigate the allegation and take action if it was found to be true.
"If such an incident has taken place, an FIR should be registered, and the police should investigate it," Majumdar said.
He also raised the possibility that the incident could have been linked to a local dispute. Majumdar pointed out that despite a large number of people from Bengal joining the CJP’s recent protest in Delhi, no similar incidents had been reported elsewhere.
State minister Agnimitra Paul said the BJP would not protect anyone found guilty of wrongdoing.
"There are lakhs of BJP workers across India. It is neither possible nor the responsibility of the state president or the chief minister to determine the character of every worker. If someone has done something like this, action will be taken against that person," Paul said.
She said those responsible would be treated as criminals and added, "we will not tolerate such incidents. Strict action will be taken".
According to the CJP, Hafeez alleged in a video that a school teacher had informed local political workers about his visit to the school, following which the alleged attack took place.
The party claimed that the attackers demanded that Hafeez record a video apologising for highlighting the poor condition of the school and saying that he had acted at the behest of others.
"When Hafeez refused to comply, the individuals allegedly launched a violent assault on his family," it said.
Hafeez said he had returned from Delhi after participating in the CJP protest and later visited the primary school in his village to document its condition.
"The CJP had launched a campaign, 'School Thik Karo', which is a good initiative. As part of it, I went to the school in my village and asked whether there were any problems. I enquired about facilities such as toilets and drinking water for the children. I told a teacher that I wanted to start a campaign and asked for his permission. He asked me to come the next day," the CJP volunteer said.
According to Hafeez, the teacher later informed local BJP workers about his visit.
"At around 8.30 pm on August 13, BJP workers came to our house and assaulted us," he alleged.
The family said both Hafeez and his father were assaulted and that Janab Mafik’s condition deteriorated following the incident. He was later admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, where he died on Saturday night.
A CJP supporter alleged that the attack was a "consequence" of Hafeez questioning authorities about the school’s infrastructure.
"If asking questions leads to such attacks, we will continue to ask those questions again and again, and a thousand times if necessary," the supporter said.
"He (Hafeez) went to Delhi and spoke the truth. The assault appears to be an expression of anger. It seems that he is being punished for speaking the truth. But we are fighting for the interests of students," he said.