Mamata Banerjee assures support to CJP volunteer after father’s death

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday spoke to the Cockroach Janta Party volunteer whose father was allegedly beaten to death at his home in West Bengal's Bankura district and assured the bereaved family of her party's support, sources said.

A TMC delegation also visited the bereaved family to express solidarity.

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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said its volunteer, Shaik Abdul Hafeez (25), visited Karisunda West Para Primary School on August 13 as part of the party's "School Thik Karo" campaign, intended to document deficiencies in government school infrastructure.

That evening, armed men entered Hafeez's house and demanded that he record an apology video saying that he had highlighted the school's condition at someone else's behest, the CJP said.

When he refused, the assailants allegedly attacked him and his father Janab Mafik with sticks, rods and a crowbar. Mafik died at the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital on Saturday night, two days after the alleged assault.

While police arrested eight people on Sunday, the BJP rejected any organisational link to the incident.

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With the alleged attack triggering a political confrontation, TMC sources said Banerjee spoke to Hafeez over the phone, expressing her concern and assuring the family that she stood by them in this difficult hour.

"Mamata Banerjee spoke to Abdul Hafeez and assured him of her support. She also conveyed her solidarity with the family following the death of his father," a TMC leader said.

The opposition party's Bankura district unit's joint convenor Sukhen Bid was among the party delegation which visited the family. "We stand by the family. We will support him throughout and see that they get justice," he said.