Mamata Banerjee Announces ₹10 Lakh Aid, Jobs for Families of Pahalgam Attack Victims

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh each for the families of three tourists from the state — Samir Guha, Bitan Adhikari, and Manish Ranjan — who were among the 26 people killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April.

She further said that financial aid would also be provided to the family of Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of 6 Para Special Forces, who lost his life in an encounter with terrorists two days after the Pahalgam attack.

“Three tourists from our state were killed in the terrorist attack in Kashmir and one army personnel was killed during an encounter. I am sure the Centre would announce some compensation for the victims’ families. We will give the four families ₹10 lakh each," said Banerjee. She further clarified that if the deceased are survived by both parents and a spouse, the amount would be equally divided, with ₹5 lakh allotted to each party.

Banerjee also announced that one member from each bereaved family would be offered a government job. Additionally, the elderly parents of Bitan Adhikari, a 40-year-old techie based in Florida who was on holiday in Kolkata before travelling to Kashmir, will receive an additional monthly pension of ₹10,000.

“I spoke with the parents of Bitan Adhikari, one of the victims. They are elderly and used to depend on their son for medicines. A Swasthya Sathi card will be issued in the name of Bitan’s father. We will also give him an additional monthly pension of ₹10,000,” she said.

The Chief Minister also assured support for the family of Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh from Nadia district, who was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district. “I have spoken with his wife. We can also ensure that the two children get admission in a good school in Kolkata, if the family members want,” Banerjee said, adding that his wife would be offered a government job.

Three residents of West Bengal — a young tech professional, a government employee, and an Intelligence Bureau officer — were among those killed in a brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday. The victims, identified as Bitan Adhikari, Sameer Guha, and Manish Ranjan, had been visiting the Valley with their families on holiday. The incident has sent shockwaves through the state, with grieving families and leaders expressing deep outrage and sorrow.

Havaldar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the Indian Army’s 6 Para Special Forces battalion was martyred, and two others were injured during a fierce encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Thursday. The gunfight erupted in the Dudu-Basantgarh area during a cordon and search operation, which was launched based on intelligence inputs about terrorist movement. The incident occurred just two days after the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam.​