West Bengal Police on Monday sought to counter claims circulating on social media over the death of Sk Md Mafik in Bankura district, saying there was no medical evidence so far to support allegations that he died from injuries sustained in a "brutal physical assault". Mafik, father of Sk Abdul Hafiz alias Rik, died at Burdwan Medical College on the night of August 15, two days after a group of people allegedly confronted the family at their residence in the Indas police station area.
The death has triggered a political controversy, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and others alleging that Mafik was assaulted while attempting to protect his son. Reports citing the family have alleged that the confrontation was linked to Hafiz's participation in a campaign highlighting conditions at a local government school. Bankura Police, however, presented a different account of the circumstances surrounding Mafik's death and cautioned against drawing conclusions while the investigation remains underway.
According to the police account, Hafiz had visited Karisunda Paschimpara Primary School on the morning of August 13 to enquire about facilities at the institution. Later that night, a group of miscreants allegedly arrived at Hafiz's residence and accosted him, purportedly in connection with his visit to the school. During the incident, his father Mafik sustained what police described as a "minor injury", which required one stitch.
Police said Mafik subsequently got himself admitted to Burdwan Medical College on the morning of August 15 after experiencing severe fluctuations in his blood pressure.
According to the police statement, doctors treating Mafik did not detect any life-threatening injury. He died later that night.
Following his death, claims began circulating online that Mafik had succumbed to injuries inflicted during the August 13 attack. Police described claims that he died following a "brutal physical assault" as "baseless and false". The police account differs significantly from claims made by Hafiz and CJP representatives, who have alleged that Mafik was seriously assaulted while intervening to protect his son. Some media reports, citing the family, have also described the death as resulting from injuries sustained in the alleged attack. The precise medical cause of Mafik's death is therefore central to the continuing investigation.
Bankura Police said it had launched a detailed investigation immediately after the incident and has so far arrested eight people. Three of those arrested had been named in the initial FIR, while another five were identified as suspects during the subsequent investigation.
All eight have been remanded to eight days of police custody, according to police. Two other suspects remain absconding, and police teams have launched searches to apprehend them. A police house guard has also been deployed at Hafiz's residence as a precautionary security measure.
The confrontation has been linked to Hafiz's visit to Karisunda Paschimpara Primary School earlier on August 13. CJP representatives have claimed Hafiz was participating in the organisation's "School Thik Karo" campaign, which seeks to document deficiencies in government schools and demand improvements in educational infrastructure.
According to accounts provided by the family and CJP, Hafiz had recorded the condition of the school and posted material relating to it online before the confrontation at his home later that day. The family has alleged that the group targeted Hafiz because of his activities connected with the campaign. Reports have also carried allegations that those involved were BJP supporters. These allegations remain under investigation, and police have not established the political claims in their latest statement.
The incident has meanwhile escalated beyond Bankura, with the CJP demanding action against everyone involved in the alleged attack. The organisation on Monday issued a 10-day ultimatum to the West Bengal government to arrest all those it alleges were responsible for Mafik's death. The CPI(M) has also demanded that all the accused be apprehended.
Hafiz has alleged that his father was assaulted when he attempted to intervene during the attack on him. The CJP has similarly characterised Mafik's death as a consequence of the alleged assault, a version now explicitly disputed by the police. The competing accounts have led to widespread discussion of the incident on social media.
West Bengal Police urged people to refrain from circulating unverified information while the investigation is underway. Police said misinformation surrounding the circumstances of Mafik's death was being spread across social media and warned that those found deliberately circulating rumours could face legal action.
The investigation into the August 13 incident itself continues irrespective of the dispute surrounding the cause of Mafik's death. With eight people already in custody and searches underway for two more suspects, investigators are examining the sequence of events surrounding the confrontation as well as the circumstances that preceded Mafik's hospitalisation and death. The case now hinges on two related but distinct questions — responsibility for the alleged attack at Hafiz's home on August 13 and the medical circumstances that led to Mafik's death two days later.