Kolkata: Sheikh Abdul Hafiz had walked into a local village primary school and asked a few simple questions on whether the drinking water was clean, whether the toilets worked and what the children were struggling with.That was August 13. By the night of August 15, his father, 46-year-old Sheikh Mohammad Mafik, was killed.Mafik was allegedly beaten with sticks and iron rods by a group of men who attacked the family’s home in Karishunda village, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Indas Police Station in Bankura. According to the family, he was hit while trying to shield Hafiz from the attackers.Police have arrested eight people, including a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader and booth president. A murder case has been registered.‘Asked whether there were any problems’The killing has shaken the area, local sources told The Wire. Hafiz, 27, is an activist of the Cockroach Janata Party, and had been a part of the Jantar Mantar protests. He had gone to Karishunda Paschimpara Primary School as part of the party’s ‘School Thik Karo (fix the schools)’ campaign. Under the campaign, supporters would visit schools, talk to teachers and local people, and write down what was wrong. “Abdul Hafiz went to the school in his village and asked whether there were any problems,” said Debipra Ganguly, a Bengal member of the CJP. “He asked the teacher if the children were facing difficulties with the toilets or drinking water. He wanted to start a campaign and asked for permission.”On a social media, Hafiz claimed that a teacher – possibly referring to the headmaster, Kashinath De – gave him a time for an appointment the next day.“He then tipped off local BJP workers. A few hours later, at around 8 pm a group of BJP supporters showed up at our house with sticks, iron rods and crowbars. They wanted to kill me,” Hafiz alleged in a video message.Locals said that Hafiz’s phone was allegedly snatched and the photos and videos of the school that he had shot, were deleted. According to one account by an activist who reached the spot, Hafiz’s father rushed out of the house as the attack continued in an effort to save him. The men then allegedly turned on Mafik, beating him with the same sticks and rods before leaving, injuring him seriously. Police reached the spot afterwards and took him to the Indas Block Primary Health Centre, locals say.Abdul Hafiz with members of the SFI, at Bardhaman Medical College on August 16. Photo: Debanjan Dey“BJP goons killed Abdul’s father. It was not a political murder, rather it was done to send a message to dissenters across the country who’re protesting against the collapse of the education system” alleged Ganguly. “He had also gone to Delhi on July 19 for the CJP protest. The threats started after he came back.”Mafik’s condition worsened over the next two days. He was shifted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital on August 15 and died there that night.His wife, Hasina Begum, went to Indas Police Station on the afternoon of August 16 and filed a written complaint against 10 to 15 people, naming five.CM distances BJP The eight who were arrested are Sheikh Azad, Srikanta Majhi, Prashanta Ruidas, Rohit Majhi, Bablu Majhi, Santu Majhi, Tinku Keora and Ashtam Majhi. Local residents identified Ashtam Majhi as a BJP leader and booth president.They were produced before the Bishnupur Sub-Divisional Court. Police have asked for their custody and say the search for others is still on.“We received the complaint on Sunday afternoon. After receiving it, eight people connected with the incident were arrested,” Bankura Additional Superintendent of Police Krishanu Roy told the media. “The investigation has begun, and searches are under way for the other accused.”CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, posting on X, said Hafiz had gone to inspect a school he had once studied in himself. “It makes my blood boil that people are being murdered simply for demanding better schools,” he wrote.A CJP team led by spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka travelled to Indas to meet Hafiz today. The Left’s Students’ Federation India has called for statewide protest against the killing. Earlier in a video message, Ranka had said that “Abdul’s only mistake was that he wanted to get his village school repaired. But BJP’s goons beat his father so badly that he died.”IMPORTANTहम स्कूल ठीक करना चाह रहे है। लेकिन पूरे देश में भाजपा के गुंडे सिर्फ हिंसा फैला रहे है।अब्दुल की सिर्फ यह गलती थी कि वो अपने गांव का स्कूल ठीक कराना चाहता था। लेकिन भाजपा के गुंडों ने उसके पिताजी को इतना मारा कि उनकी मौत हो गई।कल मैं, @VijayMallangi, Ankit, Sudhir… https://t.co/3ssWaJP0yx pic.twitter.com/6EtwxYIcVR— Ashutosh Ranka (@AshutoshRanka) August 16, 2026Facing outrage, the BJP has tried to keep distance from the killing. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the accused should be treated as criminals, whatever flag they carry.“This has nothing to do with the BJP. They’re all criminals,” he said. “Action will be taken according to the law.”