A violent attack in Bankura raises questions over the state of government education, democratic dissent and the safety of those demanding accountability
Report: Sampukta Bose
Translated from English by: Sanjay Parate
Bankura, West Bengal: A violent incident in Karishunda village under the Indas block of Bankura district has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding the condition of government education and the space available for citizens to question public institutions.
The alleged assault on 24-year-old education activist Abdul Hafiz, followed by the death of his father Sheikh Mohammad Mafik, a landless agricultural labourer, has triggered anger among sections of students, youth, women and Left organisations.
According to the family and organisations supporting them, the incident began after Hafiz raised questions about the poor infrastructure, shortage of resources and educational conditions at a local government primary school. The allegations have since developed into a wider political controversy, with demands for accountability and action against those allegedly responsible for the violence.
The Price of Asking Questions
Abdul Hafiz had recently returned to his village after participating in a national education movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Inspired by the campaign, he turned his attention to the condition of the government primary school in Karishunda.
On August 13, Hafiz reportedly visited the school, inspected its infrastructure and discussed the problems with the headmaster.
According to Hafiz’s account, instead of an open discussion, he was confronted and surrounded before allegedly being physically assaulted. He said he was beaten and forcibly dragged towards his home.
When his father, Sheikh Mohammad Mafik, came forward unarmed to protect his son, the attackers allegedly assaulted the elderly man with iron rods and heavy sticks.
Both father and son sustained serious injuries.
The family has alleged that the attackers were associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, however, has denied the allegation.
Hafiz has also alleged that the attackers called him “anti-national” and “Pakistani” for questioning the functioning of the school administration.
The family further alleged that they faced intimidation even at the hospital and claimed that local police did not intervene effectively during the attack or take adequate action at the time.
Father Dies on Independence Day
Following the assault, Mafik’s condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly.
He was taken to Burdwan Medical College Hospital, where he died on August 15 — Independence Day — from injuries sustained in the alleged attack.
Authorities have arrested several people in connection with the incident, according to the account provided by the family and supporting organisations.
However, the family and organisations associated with the campaign are demanding the arrest and prosecution of everyone allegedly involved in the attack.
They have also sought formal disciplinary action and an inquiry against police officials accused of failing to respond adequately.
“Build a School in My Father’s Name”
The tragedy has drawn wider attention because Hafiz has reportedly refused to seek personal or political benefit from the incident.
Following his father’s death, Hafiz has declined government financial compensation and instead demanded that the state government construct a modern, high-quality government school in Karishunda in memory of his father.
The proposed school, he has said, should be open to children from all communities.
His mother, Hasina Bibi, has also supported the demand. She has reportedly said that the family does not want financial assistance as long as other children in the village continue to remain deprived of basic educational facilities.
For the grieving family, a permanent public institution would be a more meaningful tribute to Mafik’s life and sacrifice than monetary compensation.
Students and Democratic Organisations Extend Solidarity
Following Mafik’s death, a joint delegation comprising Left, student and civil-rights activists visited Karishunda to express solidarity with the family.
The delegation included SFI state secretary Debanjan Dey, CPI(M) state committee members Shatarup Ghosh and Mayukh Biswas, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, and representatives of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
During the visit, Debanjan Dey described the incident as part of what he called a broader pattern of intimidation intended to discourage young people from questioning the condition of government education.
Dey said Hafiz had participated in the national movement to defend government schools in Delhi and had returned to his village with the intention of raising concerns about the local primary school.
He condemned the alleged assault on Hafiz and the death of his father and said political violence would not stop the demand for justice or the campaign to protect public institutions.
Questions Over Administration and Political Violence
CPI(M) state committee member Shatarup Ghosh also condemned the incident and criticised the administration’s handling of the alleged criminal violence.
Ghosh reportedly drew attention to the poor condition of the family’s home and the deteriorated roads leading to the village.
He argued that the government should consider concrete and structural forms of assistance rather than limiting relief to nominal financial compensation.
Mayukh Biswas said access to the right to education was increasingly becoming difficult for working-class families.
He emphasised that the struggle to protect government education should not remain confined to protest sites in major cities but should also be organised in rural areas, where administrative neglect is often more visible.
Ten-Day Deadline to the State Government
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has reportedly issued a 10-day deadline to the state government and put forward four demands.
The demands include:
- Immediate and adequate security for Abdul Hafiz and his family.
- Arrest and prosecution of everyone allegedly involved in the violent attack.
- A thorough inquiry and disciplinary action against police officials accused of failing to act.
- Construction of a modern government school in memory of Hafiz’s late father, Sheikh Mohammad Mafik, instead of monetary compensation.
Ranka warned that if the demands were not addressed within the stipulated period, the organisation would intensify its campaign and mobilise people for a demonstration outside the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in Bankura district.
The organisation has also announced plans to raise an independent relief fund to assist the family with legal and material requirements.
Ranka said attempts to intimidate people raising questions about public institutions would not stop the campaign. According to the organisation, Hafiz is now preparing to take forward a wider “Fix the Schools” campaign across West Bengal.
Defending Democratic Space
The incident has also been linked by Left organisations to broader concerns about communal polarisation, secular harmony and democratic freedoms in the country.
Speaking at an Independence Day programme, CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim reportedly recalled the inclusive ideals of India’s freedom movement and called for vigilance in protecting civil rights and public institutions.
He urged people to oppose forces that, according to him, seek to use majoritarian politics to suppress public grievances and weaken democratic space.
A Larger Question for Government Education
The Karishunda incident extends beyond the boundaries of a single village in Bankura.
It raises a fundamental question for civil society: Can ordinary citizens demand functioning and accountable public institutions without facing violence, intimidation or administrative indifference?
In a democracy, asking questions about the condition of a village primary school is a civic responsibility, not a crime.
The allegations surrounding the attack on Abdul Hafiz and the death of his father Sheikh Mohammad Mafik have therefore become part of a larger debate over public education, accountability and the protection of democratic dissent.
For Hafiz and his family, the demand is not simply for compensation. It is for a functioning public institution that can serve future generations of children in the village.
The response of the state authorities, including the investigation into the alleged assault, the role of those accused and the concerns raised about police conduct, will be crucial in determining whether the incident leads to accountability or remains another unresolved chapter in the debate over government education and democratic rights.
Report: Sampukta Bose
Translated from English by: Sanjay Parate
The reporter is an independent journalist. The translator is the Vice-President of Chhattisgarh Kisan Sabha, affiliated with the All India Kisan Sabha.
