Kolkata, 07 September (H.S.) :

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a fresh protest in Bankura, with party supporters planning to gherao the Bankura District Magistrate’s office on Tuesday. The protesters have put forward a single demand: the state government should establish a school in memory of Sheikh Mafiq, the late father of CJP supporter Sheikh Abdul Hafiz of Indas.

Hafiz has appealed to people through a social media post to join the protest and urged the state government to accept the demand. The Bankura district police, meanwhile, are also keeping a close watch on the proposed programme amid concerns that the gherao could lead to a law-and-order situation.

The issue dates back to early August, when Sheikh Abdul Hafiz travelled to Delhi to support a CJP sit-in protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. During the demonstration, he joined other party supporters in demanding the resignation of the Education Minister and was also reportedly subjected to police action.

Hafiz later became directly involved in the CJP’s campaign seeking better infrastructure in government schools. As part of the programme, he visited a school in his home area of Indas in Bankura. According to his family, his activities were not viewed favourably by some local BJP leaders, following which his family allegedly came under attack.

His father, Sheikh Mafiq, died while reportedly trying to protect his son. The incident triggered tension in the village in Indas in mid-August. CJP representatives, including Ashutosh Ranka, subsequently travelled from Delhi to Bankura to extend support to the bereaved family.

Hafiz and his family have since been demanding that the state government establish a quality government school in Sheikh Mafiq’s memory anywhere in West Bengal. Hafiz is now seeking a commitment from the government on the demand.

The CJP has warned that if the demand is not accepted, its supporters will gherao the Bankura District Magistrate’s office on Tuesday. The proposed protest has also drawn attention in the political circles of the district, with questions being raised over the CJP’s renewed political mobilisation in Bankura.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh