The recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 28 lives, also marked the tragic end of the final India visit of Bitan Adhikary, a US-based engineer originally from West Bengal. Bitan, who worked with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Florida, was on a family vacation in Kashmir when militants targeted tourists at the scenic Baisaran meadow on April 22, 2025.
Bitan had returned to India last month with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son Hridaan for a summer break. The family had been touring Kashmir since April 16 and were scheduled to return to the US on April 24. Tragically, Bitan was fatally shot during the attack, while his wife and son survived and are now safely returning home.
The brutal assault by militants from the Pakistan-based group The Resistance Front (TRF) has shocked the nation and the global Indian diaspora. Bitan’s death has deeply saddened his family, colleagues, and friends, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally reaching out to console the bereaved family and assuring government support in bringing his mortal remains back to Kolkata.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia to return to India and oversee the government’s response to the attack. The incident has prompted widespread condemnation from world leaders and intensified security operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bitan Adhikary’s final visit to India, intended as a joyful family reunion, has instead become a symbol of the indiscriminate brutality of terrorism. His tragic death underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect tourists and civilians in the region.