A violent confrontation in Karishunda village in Indas block of Bankura district has cast a harsh light on the deteriorating state of government education across West Bengal. The brutal assault on 24-year-old education activist Abdul Hafiz and the subsequent death of his father, Sheikh Mohammad Mafik — a landless farm labourer — has ignited widespread outrage. What began as an ordinary citizen's enquiry into the neglected infrastructure of a local primary school has escalated into a major political flashpoint, uniting student, youth, women, and Left organisations against the violent suppression of democratic dissent.

THE COST OF ASKING QUESTIONS

Abdul Hafiz had recently returned to his village after participating in the national education movement at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Driven by that campaign, Hafiz turned his attention to the poor infrastructure, acute lack of resources, and substandard teaching conditions at the government primary school in Karishunda.

On August 13, Hafiz visited the school to inspect its condition and discuss the issues with the head teacher. Instead of an open dialogue, he was confronted, cornered, and physically assaulted. According to Hafiz, he was beaten and forcibly dragged towards his home. When his father rushed forward unarmed to protect him, the assailants attacked the older man with iron rods and heavy sticks. Both father and son sustained grave injuries.

The family has alleged that the attackers were affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Hafiz stated that his attackers branded him "anti-national" and "Pakistani" for daring to challenge the administration of the school. The family also reported severe intimidation at the hospital and accused local police of failing to intervene or act decisively during the critical hours of the attack.

Mafik’s condition deteriorated rapidly following the assault. He was transferred to Burdwan Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on August 15 — Independence Day. While authorities have made several arrests, the victim's family and allied organisations continue to demand the arrest of every individual involved in the attack, as well as formal disciplinary action against police officers accused of negligence.

‘BUILD A SCHOOL IN MY FATHER’S NAME’

The tragedy has resonated across the state because Hafiz sought no personal or political gain. Following his father's death, Hafiz took the principled step of rejecting government monetary compensation. Instead, he demanded that the state construct a modern, high-quality public school in Karishunda dedicated to his father's memory — an institution open to children of all communities.

His mother, Hasina Bibi, backed this stance, declaring that she refuses to accept financial relief for her family as long as other children in the village remain deprived of basic education. Even in deep mourning, the family maintains that only an enduring public institution will honour Mafik's sacrifice.

STUDENT AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP MOBILISE

Following the murder, a joint delegation of Left, student, and civil rights leaders 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 from the All India Democratic Women's Association.

During the visit, Debanjan Dey situated the attack within a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at discouraging young people from challenging the state of public education. Dey stated that Hafiz had joined the national movement in Delhi to defend public schooling and returned home to save his village primary school. He condemned the attackers for labelling Hafiz anti-national and beating his father to death, warning that such political violence would not halt the struggle for justice or the defence of public institutions.

Shatarup Ghosh condemned the assault, criticising the administration's handling of criminal violence and the political elements linked to the attack. Ghosh also drew attention to the neglected condition of the family's home and the dilapidated roads leading to the village, arguing that the government must provide meaningful, structural restitution rather than nominal cash handouts.

Mayukh Biswas remarked that the right to education has increasingly become an unattainable privilege for working-class families. He emphasised that the fight for public education cannot remain confined to major urban protest hubs, but must actively organise in rural areas where administrative neglect is most acute.

THE 10-DAY ULTIMATUM

Issuing a stern 10-day deadline to the state government, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka laid out four non-negotiable demands aimed at securing justice and systemic reform: immediate and robust protection for Abdul Hafiz and his family, the swift arrest and prosecution of every individual involved in the violent attack, a thorough inquiry alongside punitive action against the police officials accused of inaction, and the construction of a modern government school dedicated to the memory of Hafiz’s deceased father, Sheikh Mohammad Mafik, in lieu of financial compensation. Ranka warned that should the authorities fail to meet these demands within the 10-day timeframe, the organisation will escalate the struggle by launching a mass mobilisation to gherao the sub-divisional officer’s (SDO) office in Bankura district. Furthermore, the organisation pledged to raise independent relief funds to support the bereaved family's legal and material needs, affirming that attempts to terrorise whistleblowers will not derail their momentum as Hafiz joins hands to spearhead the statewide "School Thik Koro" (Fix the Schools) campaign across West Bengal.

DEFENDING DEMOCRATIC SPACE

The recent events in Indas bring into sharp relief the necessity of defending secular harmony and democratic freedoms in the face of communal divisiveness. Speaking at an Independence Day event, CPI(M) State Secretary Mohammad Salim recalled the inclusive ideals of the independence movement, calling for vigilant defence of civil rights and public institutions against forces using majoritarian politics to stifle public grievance.

This incident also reflects a worsening crisis in public schooling. Student organisations like the SFI have long challenged the neglect of state-run education, citing severe teacher vacancies, dilapidated classrooms, and broken welfare mechanisms that weaken public learning. The brutality in Indas signals a dangerous turning point — an overt effort to intimidate grassroots voices seeking institutional transparency.

THE QUESTION FACING PUBLIC EDUCATION

The tragedy of Indas reaches far beyond the borders of a single village in Bankura. It poses a fundamental question to civil society: Can ordinary citizens demand functioning public institutions without facing violence and administrative apathy?

In any functioning democracy, asking questions about the condition of a village primary school is an act of civic responsibility, not a crime. The refusal of Abdul Hafiz and his family to be silenced — alongside the united mobilisation of students, women, and democratic organisations — makes clear that the struggle for public education and democratic accountability will continue.