'What Will I Tell His 3-Year-Old Son?' Kolkata IT Professional Gunned Down In Pahalgam Was Visiting From Florida

News18

23-04-2025

Bitan Adhikary had planned the trip from April 16-24 with his wife and son but was killed by terrorists in Pahalgam
Bitan Adhikary, an IT professional based in Florida, had travelled all the way to Kashmir with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son for a family vacation. Originally from South Kolkata, Bitan had planned the trip from April 16-24. Tragically, their holiday took a horrifying turn when Bitan was brutally killed by terrorists in Pahalgam.
The news has left his family in deep shock. 'What will I tell his son? Where is his father? We can't bear this pain. They went there to enjoy, not to die," said Dipak Chakraborty, Bitan's cousin, when minister Arup Biswas visited their residence in Kolkata to offer condolences.
Bimal Roy, Bitan's uncle, broke down while speaking to News18. 'Sohini asked me, 'Uncle what will I do, why did they do this?' Everything is finished; what will we do now."
Bitan's wife and son are still in Kashmir. According to administrative sources, the West Bengal government is actively working to expedite the process of bringing back Bitan's mortal remains.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her grief on social media, posting on X: 'My heart goes out to the families of the victims of the devastating terrorist attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir today. One of the victims, Sri Bitan Adhikary, is from West Bengal. I have spoken to his wife over the phone. Though no words are enough to console her in this hour of grief, I have assured her that my government is taking all steps to bring his mortal remains back to Kolkata. My deepest condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones in this inhuman act of terror."
Minister Arup Biswas also assured the family of all possible support. Family members mentioned that Bitan had called them as recently as Tuesday afternoon, saying they were safe and looking forward to returning home as planned.
Meanwhile, Sudipto Das, a resident of Krishnanagar in Nadia district, was also in Kashmir with his wife at the time of the attack. They were visiting Pahalgam and were near a local Shiv temple in an area referred to as 'Mini Switzerland' when the incident occurred. The couple left the area immediately. With assistance from the Indian Army, they were escorted to Srinagar, where they are currently safe.
The couple is deeply traumatised as they had developed a bond with the young woman seen crying in the widely circulated video. The emotional impact has been so intense that they are struggling to sleep.
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