West Bengal CM announces compensation for tourists killed in Pahalgam, fallen soldier in J&K

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday (April 26, 2025) announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the next of kin of the tourists from West Bengal killed in Pahalgam terror attack. Three tourists Bitan Adhikari, Sameer Guha and Manish Ranjan from the State were killed in the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.

“Among those who have been killed in Kashmir, I spoke to the parents of Bitan Adhikari., they are very old. The Central government would certainly offer help,” the Chief Minister said. Ms. Banerjee said in case of elderly parents the money offered as compensation will be divided among the wife and parents and each will get ₹5 lakh.

She said that the West Bengal government will offer a monthly pension of ₹10,000 to the father of Bitan Adhikari who was dependent on his son. Bitan Adhikari, a 40-year-old IT professional working at Florida in the United States of America was on a vacation to India when he was killed in Pahalgam. Sameer Guha (52) was a central government employee and Manish Ranjan (41) was an Intelligence Bureau officer posted in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister said that she was ready to offer jobs to the family who has been hit by the tragedy.

Ms. Banerjee also spoke to the wife of Indian Army Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of the deceased jawan and added that she will offer a job to the wife of deceased Army personnel on compassionate grounds.

Thousands of people had joined the family members when the body of Jhantu Ali Sheikh was taken on its final journey in Tehatta town in West Bengal Nadia’s district. His mortal remains were brought to Kolkata on Friday night and then to Barrackpore before being taken to his native Tehatta Patharghata village early Saturday. The body, wrapped in the tricolour, reached his home at around 8 am. The Army Havildar’s brother Rafiqul Sheikh, who is also serving in the Indian Army, gave his shoulder to the coffin. The final rites were performed with full state honours. Several leaders of Trinamool Congress including local MLA had offered the tributes to the fallen jawan. The Army Jawan is survived by his wife, a 10-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter.

Wait for missing BSF jawan

The family members of  Border Security Force (BSF) constable Purnam Kumar Shaw who has been detained by Pakistan Army were anguished as there was no fresh information about his whereabouts. The BSF constable hails from Rishra in State’s Hooghly district and wife and other family members have decided to visit Pathankot in Jammu and Kashmir.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Saturday spoke to the BSF Director General Daljit Chawdhary regarding the detention of the BSF . He said that the government agencies and officials are making every effort to ensure his secure return to India.

“I just spoke with the DG BSF regarding the detention of Purnam Kumar Shaw by the Pakistan Army. He informed me that all relevant government agencies and officials are making every possible effort to secure his return to India,” Mr. Banerjee posted on X. The Sreerampur MP said that the BSF has assured that the BSF jawan is currently safe and in good health in Pakistan.