Heart-rending details of the Pahalgam terror attack aftermath continue as more and more victims of the tragic development are identified. Among them, Bitan Adhikary, a 40-year-old US-based engineer’s name has also come up.

The TCS techie, who came down to his Kolkata home earlier this month with his wife Sohini and three-year-old son, was fatally shot in Tuesday’s terrorist attack at Pahalgam’s Baisaran area – locally called “Mini Switzerland.” The incident occurred when the family trio was vacationing there. According to an NDTV report, they travelled to Kashmir last week.

NRI Pahalgam terror attack victim was currently living in Florida

Bitan Adhikary – based in Brandon, Florida – is survived by his wife Sohini and their son, who are reportedly safe as the government is trying its best to bring them home. The Pahalgam terror attack victim’s wife has since told Telegraph India, “We were sitting on the grass at Mini Switzerland when suddenly armed men approached, asking who was Hindu and who was Muslim.”

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Speaking via phone from Pahalgam Base Camp, Sohini added, “They didn’t give us time to move or run. They opened fire indiscriminately. My husband died on the spot.” She also confirmed that they were supposed to return this Thursday. As of now, the family is being arranged to move back to Kolkata, along with Bitan Adhikary’s remains.

The deceased engineer relocated to American in 2019 due to his work with TCS. According to his LinkedIn profile, Adhikary completed his Bachelor’s of Technology, Electrical Engineering from West Bengal University of Technology. He was working as a Test Manager at Tata Consultancy Services for the past years. Prior to that, he was professionally tied to Verizon, Cognizant and Freddie Mac.

On April 8, he and his family arrived in Kolkata to celebrate Bengali New Year. They eventually travelled to Kashmir on April 16 for an eight-day vacation. Bitan Adhikary’s ancestral home is in Behala, Kolkata.

Bitan Adhikary’s family in Kolkata speaks out

His old father shared with Anandabazar Patrika that Bitan wanted “all of us” to accompany him on the Kashmir vacation. “But I told him to go with my daughter-in-law. I spoke to him today as well, even in the afternoon. What happened after that,” he said.

Struggling to accept the loss, Bitan Adhikary’s brother revealed that he, too, had spoken to his younger brother in the morning. “He told me that once he returned from Kashmir, we would plan an extended holiday nearby. We had no idea that it would be the last time we would speak.”

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West Bengal CM condemns terrorist attack

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid her regards to the families reeling from loss on social media. Her statement on X also cited Adhikary’s case: “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 Adhikari, is from West Bengal. I have talked with his wife over 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 back his mortal remains to his house at Kolkata. My deepest condolences to all the families who have lost their loved ones in this inhuman act of terror.”

Describing the act of violence as “utterly reprehensible,” she said it “must not go unpunished.” Adhikary is among at least 26 people who fell victim to the terror attack in Pahalgam.

Bengal minister Aroop Biswas has since met his family at their Kolkata home. “The  state Home Department and the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi are in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that the body is brought back as soon as possible,” he said.