MHA grants citizenship to wife of Kolkata resident killed in Pahalgam terror attack
The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted Indian citizenship to Soheni Roy, the wife of Bitan Adhikari, a resident of Kolkata who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
After the death of her husband, questions were raised about the nationality of Ms. Soheni by a section of family members of Bitan Adhikari.
Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar shared the Certificate of Registration of Soheni Roy on social media under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The document mentions that Soheni was born in Narayanganj Bangladesh and entered the country in January 1997.
Mr. Majumdar said that Soheni had applied for Indian citizenship after her marriage to Bitan Adhikari a long time ago. 'The Indian government has accepted that application of citizenship. I thank the Indian government, Bitan babu was brutally killed at Pahalgam. The Union government has given a fresh leash of life to Soheni by granting citizenship ,' the BJP leader said.
Bitan Adhikari, an IT employee who was working in Florida, USA was killed in Pahalgam in front of his wife on April 22. The family members of Bitan Adhikari including his elderly parents reside at Patuli in Kolkata. The West Bengal government has announced compensation for the family and distributed the compensation sum between the parents and the wife of the deceased. Several politicians both from the ruling party and Opposition has visited the Adhikari family after the tragedy and assured support.
Of the 26 persons who were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, three persons were from West Bengal. The other two deceased were Sameer Guha, a resident of Behala in the city and Manish Ranjan from Jhalda in State's Purulia district.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
19 minutes ago
- The Hindu
News Analysis: Ahead of polls, all eyes in Bihar on Chirag Paswan's next political move
Poll-bound Bihar is witnessing fast-paced developments with Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Jamui, Arun Bharti, brother-in-law of party chief Chirag Paswan, saying that supporters want Mr. Paswan to contest the upcoming Assembly election in Bihar, and that too not from any reserved seat but from a general seat. He said this would send a message that he was a leader able to bridge caste lines. Mr. Paswan, who is currently the MP from Hajipur (reserved) seat and the Union Food Processing Industries Minister, himself said in Chhattisgarh that he 'doesn't see himself in national politics for long and the only reason he came into politics was Bihar and Biharis'. Mr. Paswan, who had represented Jamui, a reserved seat, twice in 2014 and 2019, is likely to call a meeting of the LJP(RV) Executive Committee soon to formalise a proposal urging him to contest the upcoming Assembly election. Posters urging him to contest elections from Sheikhpura and Ara seats, and claiming that only he could stop migration from Bihar, are being put up. However, the buzz around junior Paswan centres around two questions. The first is whether he is gearing up to play a bigger role in State politics at the behest of senior National Democratic Alliance partner BJP. The second is whether he has become overambitious in exploring opportunities to be the next Bihar Chief Minister amid concerns over incumbent Nitish Kumar's health and a perceived vacuum on the top after the election. The third is whether the BJP would use Mr. Paswan again to dent the plans of both the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal and ally Janata Dal (United), as he had done in the 2020 Assembly election. In 2020, the undivided LJP put up candidates at 130 Assembly seats out of the total 243, especially seats contested by the JD(U) and was instrumental in the latter's tally in the Assembly falling to just 43. The JD(U) finished third behind the BJP and RJD in the election and it emerged that the LJP had hurt the JD(U)'s winning chances in at least two dozes seats. Mr. Paswan comes from the Dalit Paswan community which accounts for 5.311% of the State's population, as per the 2022 caste survey. Currently, Mr. Paswan-led LJP (RV) has five MPs but no representation in the State Assembly. After the 2020 election, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Paswan had an uneasy relationship as Mr. Kumar and his party leaders accused Mr. Paswan of fielding party candidates to 'deliberately' defeat the JD(U). However, there was soon a twist, with LJP spliting into two parties - the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) led by Mr. Paswan's uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras and the LJP(RV) of Mr. Paswan. Mr. Paras, was sidelined in the NDA and walked out of the block while Mr. Paswan was appointed an Union Minister. Recently, he met Mr. Kumar at his residence and after the meeting, asserted that the 'NDA would contest the upcoming Assembly election under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and he will be our leader in the State'. 'Chirag Paswan can contest the Assembly election as every party leader is free to take his own decision but it is very clear that from 2025-30, there will be Nitish Kumar once again,' party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said on Monday, responding to the recent developments. However, the Opposition RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, 'The BJP has trapped Mr. Paswan once again to hurt Mr. Kumar in the election… it is now very clear that the BJP doesn't want Mr. Kumar to continue as CM after the Assembly poll and the tussle in the NDA has begun,' he said. But, is Mr. Paswan overambitious in looking for an opportunity to fill the Chief Minister post? 'May be, but it will be interesting to see whether the BJP would want to offer that seat to Mr. Paswan after election,' said political analyst Nawal Kishore Choudhary. He further asked, 'Why should the BJP promote Mr. Paswan when he too can become another Nitish Kumar?'. On the posters urging Mr. Paswan to contest the State election, he said: 'Don't go by these posters as they could be misleading. He or, the BJP must have chosen a seat for him which will be revealed at a proper time', Mr. Choudhary added.


India Today
30 minutes ago
- India Today
Dr Jitendra Singh backs purple revolution at lavender fest in Jammu's Bhaderwah
The Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday visited the Bhaderwah valley in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir and participated in the annual Lavender Festival, symbolising the government's push for the 'Purple Revolution' in the event reflects a growing emphasis on agri-based innovation, local entrepreneurship, and economic upliftment in the Union local farmers and security personnel amid blooming lavender fields, Dr Singh praised the region's transformation under the Purple Revolution, an initiative under the Aroma Mission that promotes high-value aromatic crops like lavender to boost rural incomes. Bhaderwah, once impacted by conflict, has now emerged as India's lavender capital. 'This is the new story of Jammu and Kashmir where fields bloom with lavender and opportunities,' he said, lauding efforts by local farmers and CSIR for spearheading the Singh highlighted the Modi government's efforts to transform the economy of Jammu and Kashmir through technology, agriculture, and national security measures. He linked the region's development drive to the recent Operation Sindoor, calling it a milestone in India's technological and defence capabilities.'The world has seen the might of indigenous technology during Operation Sindoor. Our defence capability today is powered not just by weapons, but by innovation,' he said. advertisementHe also said that the operation displayed India's ability to conduct precision strikes without foreign dependence, boosting national morale.'This is New India – secure at its borders and strong in its economy,' he India's stance on PoK, Dr Singh invoked the 1994 Parliamentary resolution, stating, 'Taking back PoK is a matter of national consensus, not politics.'He stated that the government remains committed to this goal as part of its broader vision for national integrity and Lavender Festival, held annually to promote aromatic farming, marks a vital part of the 'Purple Revolution' a central initiative under the Aroma Mission to boost farmer incomes through high-value crops. Bhaderwah has emerged as the lavender capital of India, turning many former conflict-ridden villages into hubs of agro-based visit and the festival reflect a broader strategy to position Jammu and Kashmir as both a security stronghold and a model of grassroots economic development, signalling New Delhi's evolving approach to the Watch


The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Home Minister's remarks on West Bengal CM opposing Operation Sindoor incorrect and motivated, says TMC
The Trinamool Congress on Monday said that the remarks by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that West Bengal Chief Minister and party chairperson had opposed 'Operation Sindoor' was 'factually incorrect and politically motivated'. The West Bengal's ruling party took to social media and shared video of the speech of the Home Minister made in Kolkata on June 1 as well as remarks made by the Chief Minister on Operation Sindoor on three days May 9, May 19 and May 29. 'Smt. @MamataOfficial has always stood by our armed forces and backed every national interest with full @abhishekaitc, as part of India's delegation, has represented our firm stand against terrorism on the global stage. HM @AmitShah should've done his homework before spreading lies!' the Trinamool Congress shared on X. In a statement the Trinamool Congress said that 'the CM has consistently backed national security initiatives, including Operation Sindoor' .'The party provided records confirming her support for the Centre's actions against terrorism. AITC also pointed out that Abhishek Banerjee was nominated as part of the official Indian delegation representing the nation's position on the global stage showing how serious the party was with Operation Sindoor,' the statement added. On June 1, the Home Minister Amit Shah had accused the Trinamool Congress chairperson of opposing 'Operation Sindoor' to 'appease the Muslim vote bank'. Ms. Banerjee had expressed support for India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that she stood 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with the Union government in the fight against terrorism. She had nominated her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee to be part of one of the all party delegations visiting foreign countries and highlighting the country's stand against terrorism. A war of words between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue started on May 29, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally targeted the Trinamool Congress government on several counts including the recruitment scam and the communal riots at Murshidabad. The Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister and accused him of politicising 'Operation Sindoor'. Three days after the Prime Minister's rally the Home Minister also targeted the Trinamool Congress government on similar fronts but accused the Chief Minister of opposing ' Operation Sindoor'.