Latest news with #Soheni
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Justice for entire country, not just for myself: Patuli survivor
1 2 3 Kolkata: "I miss and feel the pain of losing Bitan every day," says Soheni Adhikary , her voice trembling as she remembers her late husband, Bitan Adhikary, a Florida-based techie from Patuli who was among the 26 persons killed in a terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir on April 22. A month after the cold blooded killing of her husband by terrorists who turned the picturesque meadow in Pahalgam into a killing field, Soheni is still unable to put the pieces together and move on. "It still feels unreal. I can't describe how broken and helpless I've felt from within since that horrific day. One month has passed since that day but I feel his absence every single moment and each day without him seems like eternity," Soheni said while breaking down over the phone call. Bitan, who settled in Florida in 2019, was on a much-awaited vacation to Srinagar with his wife and three-and-a-half-year-old son Hridaan, on coming back to India. In an earlier interaction, Soheni narrated in detail to TOI how the peaceful getaway turned into a nightmare when they had to flee with their toddler amid gunfire, hiding with others. Terrorists confronted Bitan, asked his religion, ordered him to recite Kalma, and shot him dead when he admitted being Hindu. Dressed in Pathan suits, Soheni said they filmed the attack. After Bitan collapsed, Soheni tried CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but couldn't save him. Speaking to TOI on Wednesday, Soheni said she doesn't want to recall the day but admitted that the nightmarish memories are still fresh in her mind. "The sight of Bitan's lifeless body keeps coming before me every moment. They just refuse to go," she said. A week after the attack, NIA visited Kolkata and collected her statement. When asked if the investigators are keeping her in the loop with the developments of the investigation, she said she wouldn't like to discuss the same. Following the Operation Sindoor counter-terrorism action by India, Soheni thanked the govt for avenging her husband's death. She said that the govt action could have brought the much-needed solace to her dead husband's soul. However, there has been no public information about any of those terrorists directly part of the ambush being arrested or killed yet. "It doesn't matter if a month, a week, or a year has passed. All I want is justice, not just for Bitan but for every innocent life lost," she said on Wednesday.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'RIP Bitan. No one else's sindoor should be wiped away like mine': Wife of US-based techie
'My sindoor was wiped off by terror. As the govt avenges his death, I am sure my husband is watching somewhere from above today" KOLKATA: "My sindoor was wiped off by terror. As the govt avenges his death, I am sure my husband is watching somewhere from above today and his soul can finally rest in peace," said Soheni Adhikari (37), wife of Florida-based techie and Patuli resident Bitan, on Wednesday. This was hours after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 on April (40), a software engineer based in Kolkata who worked in Brandon, Florida, was among the three victims from Bengal who died in the terrorist attack at Baisaran Valley - a tourist spot often called "Mini Switzerland" for its picturesque earlier told TOI that one of the gunmen stuck the gun's nozzle between Bitan's shoulder and chest and asked him to read a Kalma - the six Islamic phrases of faith, which are fundamental prayers that Muslims often recite, particularly in religious teachings and daily practice. When he failed to do so, and identified himself as a Hindu, he was shot."I and all others who lost their loved ones on April 22 had just one wish - we wanted justice. That is all we wanted from the govt, and today, the govt has taken that action and served justice," she said on widow, and mother of one, Soheni appreciated the name Operation Sindoor. For her, and the families of the other victims, justice was the only balm that could ease the unbearable pain. On Wednesday, they saw the first signs of that justice."I had faith in the govt, and today, they've delivered. I am especially moved that they named the operation after what I lost - my sindoor," she said, hands folded in gratitude, voice choked with Bitan's home, relief mixed with sorrow. Bitan's ageing father, Bireshwar, who was unwell, reportedly found new strength after hearing of India's action. "He was glued to the news since morning," said Shankar Chakraborty, Bitan's uncle. "For the first time in days, he looked alert. The family thanks the govt for acting decisively."Since the attack, Soheni has struggled with trauma and depression, relying on medication and therapy. "She's shattered and is regularly dependent on medication now," said her brother-in-law. "Even little Hridaan needs counselling. This loss has scarred us forever. But today's news has brought a flicker of peace."Even in her grief, Soheni made a heartfelt appeal for peace. "I do not support war. War means more innocent blood. I just want to request the govt to ensure that no other woman loses her sindoor like I did."
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Time of India
NIA team visits Kolkata residence of Pahalgam terror attack victim Bitan Adhikary and records wife statement
Kolkata: A team from the (NIA) on Sunday visited the Baishnabghata residence of Florida-based techie Bitan Adhikary (40), who was among the 26 victims killed in the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, and recorded the statement of his wife, Soheni (37). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The investigators spent nearly five hours recording detailed statements from the woman, who was asked to recall the events leading to the attack and what happened during it. Sources said she was also asked to describe the attackers, based on which investigators made a sketch. The NIA team, comprising two male and a female officer, arrived at their Baishnabghata flat at 1.30 pm, aiming to piece together crucial details about the moments leading up to the tragedy. Sources revealed that the officers focused on retracing the family's final interactions before the militants struck, including reviewing photographs Soheni, Bitan, and their three-and-a-half-year-old son Hridaan had taken just before the gunfire erupted. Sources said the officials asked Soheni how they came face to face with the attackers, what the exact conversation was, and if she could identify the attackers. Although Soheni didn't respond to calls or texts from TOI on Sunday, in earlier interactions, she narrated in detail her encounter with the terrorists and how they killed her husband before her. She told TOI that they started running upon hearing sounds of gunfire while carrying their toddler son. They scrambled towards a spot where some tourists were trying to hide, and all sat with heads down. Hridaan, however, was terrified and continued screaming. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She told TOI how one of the two terrorists, dressed in a Pathan suit and wearing a video camera strapped on his forehead, singled out Bitan and asked his religion. "He was held at gunpoint and asked whether he was a Hindu or Muslim. He stayed mum. Then they asked him to recite Kalma. He couldn't and admitted he was a Hindu. Before he could finish the sentence, they shot him dead," Soheni told TOI on Wednesday on her way back to Kolkata with her husband's body in a coffin. Soheni further narrated to reporters that once Bitan collapsed with a bullet injury on his shoulder, she tried to resuscitate him when the attackers walked away. She said she gave CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but couldn't revive him. She also said that there were no police or security personnel in sight at the valley when the terrorists lazily chose victims—only men—and fired at them. On Saturday, the same team of NIA officers recorded the statement of the wife and daughter of another victim from Kolkata, Sameer Guha. After recording their statement, they contacted Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar. On Sunday, they also visited Lalbazar before coming over to Baishnabghata. Sources said that over the next few days, the NIA is expected to meet with other bereaved families, including Jaya Mishra, wife of the third deceased from Bengal—Intelligence Bureau officer Manish Ranjan Mishra, from Jhalda in Purulia.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Florida friends start crowdfunding campaign for kin of killed engineer
1 2 Kolkata: Friends and colleagues of Bitan Adhikary , the software engineer from Florida in the USA who was killed in a terror attack at Pahalgam on Tuesday, have launched a crowdfunding campaign from Florida to support his grieving family — his ageing parents, his wife Soheni, and three-and-a-half-year-old son Hridaan. The fundraiser, on the platform GoFundMe under the title "In Loving Memory of Bitan Adhikary – Support for his Family", aims to raise $300,000 (Rs 2.6 crore), of which $131,175 (Rs 1.1 crore) was raised by Friday night. "He is one of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, India. He was visiting India on a vacation and decided to take his family on a tour to Kashmir, and unfortunately, he lost his life in the hands of cruelty. For us, he is a martyr and an unfortunate casualty of this inhumane activity," Bibhas Bera, a friend who started the campaign, wrote on the crowdfunding page. It mentioned that after his sudden death, the family is "now facing financial burdens of ongoing mortgage, auto loan, supporting his family and son's future, and other unexpected costs." The page also mentions Adhikary, known for his cheerful nature, kindness, and generosity, as the "sole bread-earner" for his family. The post mentions that every donation will go directly to the family and will be deeply appreciated, but also adds that Soheni is yet to be added as a beneficiary. "Soheni is still not added as a beneficiary because right now, she is busy with press, govt bodies, and preparing rituals for Bitan's last rites. But we understand people's concerns over the authenticity of this fundraiser, so feel free to wait until she is officially added as a beneficiary. We are only trying to help her," the page reads while adding that the fundraiser was started after talking to her. TOI tried to speak to Soheni on the issue but she refused to comment. Family members said she was too traumatised on Friday after the shraddh rituals. The website mentions that to withdraw the money, Soheni will have to accept the invitation to be added as a beneficiary, and then she can add her bank details and complete the claims process.
