Three arrested after Bengal CJP volunteer’s father dies in attack

Three persons were arrested on Sunday (August 16, 2026) after the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) volunteer died on Saturday (August 15, 2026) of injuries suffered in an attack on Thursday (August 13, 2026) in West Bengal‘s Bankura.

The CJP has claimed that local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers attacked Janab Mafik, father of Shaik Abdul Hafeez, the CJP volunteer.

However, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari dismissed the allegation and said a first information report was lodged against five persons, three of whom were arrested.

“Of the five persons against whom an FIR has been registered, three have already been arrested. The two others will also be arrested. There is no BJP connection here. They are all criminals. Action will be taken according to law,” Mr. Adhikari told reporters.

Officials said the incident took place at Bankura’s Karisunda on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after Mr. Hafiz went to ‘inspect’ a government school as part of the CJP’s ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign. He had attended the CJP’s protest last month at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister.

“At night, five BJP workers attacked my house. They were looking for me but launched a brutal attack on my father after they could not find me. He sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to the Bardhaman Medical College where he passed away,” he told reporters.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke issued a statement condoling the death. “CJP stands firmly with Abdul and his family. We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible for his father’s death. And to the hatemongers who think they can silence us through violence: we are not going to back off. Attack our members, threaten us, try to intimidate us, we will only fight harder,” he posted on X.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, along with eastern zone coordinator of the party Ankit Bharadwaj, south zone leader Vijay Mallangi, and another core member Sudhir Sangwan, are scheduled to visit Mr. Hafiz’s family in Bankura on Monday (August 17, 2026).