Bankura: The West Bengal Police on Tuesday rejected online claims that a man in Indas, Bankura, died after a "brutal physical assault" on the father of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activist, saying the deceased had sustained only a minor injury and later succumbed after being admitted to hospital with severe blood-pressure fluctuations, PTI reported.
Police outline sequence of events
In a statement circulated on social media, the police said an incident occurred on the night of 13 August at the residence of Shaik Abdul Hafiz (also known as Rik) in Indas. According to the account, a group of miscreants allegedly accosted Hafiz and during the confrontation his father, Sk Md Mafik, sustained a minor wound that required a single stitch.
The statement said Mafik was later admitted on the morning of 15 August to Burdwan Medical College after experiencing severe fluctuations in blood pressure. Doctors, the police added, found no life-threatening injury, and Mafik died that night.
"Misinformation is being spread across social media about the August 13 incident in Indas," the police post said, and set out what it described as the facts of the case, according to PTI.
Arrests, custody and ongoing search
Bankura Police registered a first information report (FIR) and launched an investigation. Acting on the FIR, they arrested eight persons, initially naming three suspects in the complaint and later adding five more. All eight have been remanded to eight days of police custody. The police said an active manhunt is underway for two other accused who are absconding.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Initial incident | Night of 13 August at Hafiz's residence, Indas |
| Hospital admission | 15 August, Burdwan Medical College (self-admitted) |
| Arrests | 8 persons; remanded to 8 days police custody |
| Others | 2 suspects absconding; house guard deployed at Hafiz's residence |
Official appeal and local response
The police appealed to residents to refrain from spreading misleading information and to allow the probe to proceed, warning of action against those they said were circulating rumours. A house guard has been posted at Hafiz's residence, the statement added.
- Medical findings: Doctors reportedly found no life-threatening injury, and the only recorded wound earlier required a single stitch.
- Timeline: Alleged assault on 13 August; hospital admission on 15 August; death on the night of 15 August.
- Legal steps: FIR registered; eight arrests and remand; active search for two absconding suspects.
The episode has drawn political attention after CJP leader Ashutosh Ranka visited Indas and demanded arrests of those allegedly involved in the death of Mafik, whose son Shaik Abdul Hafiz is associated with the party. The police response appears aimed at countering versions of the event circulating online that described the incident as a "brutal physical assault" resulting in death.
In West Bengal's fraught political environment, accounts of violence rapidly become part of broader narratives. Local policing authorities have emphasised that formal medical and investigative conclusions should guide public understanding while they continue inquiries into the matter.
Investigating officers in Bankura said forensic and medical reports will be crucial in establishing the precise cause of death and whether any injuries were a direct factor. Further details from the post-mortem and medical records were not immediately available, and the police asked for patience while the probe continues.
The case remains under investigation by Bankura Police, and further updates are expected as custodial interrogation proceeds and additional evidence is collected.
