New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary M A Baby on Monday condemned the killing of a Cockroach Janta Party volunteer’s father in West Bengal, calling it a “chilling act of political violence”.
He stressed that those accountable should be brought to book.
In a post on social media platform X, the CPI(M) general secretary said the attack was aimed at silencing not just the voice of one family, but that of anyone who “dares to question the collapse of the education system”.
“The brutal attack and killing of Sheikh Mohammad Mafik by BJP workers in Bankura district, West Bengal, is utterly shocking and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” Baby said.
“Mafik and his son Sheikh Abdul Hafiz were targeted because Hafiz had participated in the student-youth movement against NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar and had raised the demand for better facilities in his village school. The killing is a chilling act of political violence aimed not only at silencing one family, but at intimidating the entire student movement and every young person who dares to question the collapse of the education system and demand a better future,” he said.
The Left leader said no student should be attacked for demanding fair examinations, accountable institutions or better schools, and no family should be made to pay the price for a youth exercising their democratic right to protest.
“Our country needs more youngsters like Abdul. We stand with him and his family,” Baby said.
He also demanded action against those responsible for the incident.
“Those responsible for this heinous killing must be brought to justice. This attack must not be allowed to silence the growing voices demanding change. Our youths deserve an education system that serves them, not the corporate and political interests,” he said.
In a statement issued here, the CPI(M) Politburo also condemned the killing.
The Left party said instead of remedying the National Education Policy’s disastrous consequences, the BJP and its affiliates target those who question the system.
“The murder of Janab Mafik in Bankura, West Bengal, for merely highlighting a local school’s lack of infrastructure is the epitome of their intolerance. The CPI(M) condemns this killing and demands that the BJP government immediately apprehend the perpetrators and ensure their punishment,” it said.
The Left party said both the Union and state governments must ensure basic infrastructure, including adequate teachers, in all public educational institutions.
“They must focus on improving educational infrastructure, bolstering public education, and conducting transparent, foolproof examinations. Students will be empowered by such substantive actions, not by hollow pronouncements and repressive measures,” it said.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said its volunteer Shaik Abdul Hafiz (25) visited Karisunda West Para Primary School on August 13 as part of the organisation’s “School Thik Karo” campaign, aimed at documenting deficiencies in government school infrastructure.
That evening, armed men entered Hafeez’s house and 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. PTI AO RUK RUK
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