The families of the tourists from West Bengal who lost their lives in the brutal April 22 Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Three individuals from West Bengal were among the victims of the horrifying terrorist attack.
Sohini Adhikari, the widow of one of the slain tourists, shared her grief and trauma with the media, saying she is still struggling to come to terms with her husband being targeted and killed after being identified as a Hindu.
“I cannot erase from my memory the moment when my husband was killed. He was singled out for being a Hindu. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for retaliating against Pakistan through Operation Sindoor. Now, what is important is to make sure that such attacks are never repeated. No more innocent lives should be lost to terrorism,” she said.
Echoing similar emotions, Shobori Guha, the widow of Samir Guha—another victim from West Bengal—also expressed her sorrow and support for the counter-terror operation. “We had simply gone on a vacation. I can never forget the nightmare of seeing my husband killed in cold blood at Pahalgam. I want to thank the Prime Minister for launching Operation Sindoor to strike back at those responsible,” she said.
The third victim, Manish Ranjan Mishra, was a former officer with the Central Intelligence Bureau (IB). According to reports, he was identified by the terrorists as a Hindu because of the red sacred thread he wore on his wrist, and then mercilessly killed.
Reacting to the developments, Mishra’s family members, who reside in Jhalda in West Bengal’s Purulia district, expressed strong support for the government’s retaliatory action. They emphasized that it was essential not just to act against the terrorists themselves, but also to take firm action against their sympathisers and those who provide them with shelter and support.
They further urged that individuals within India who express support for Pakistan or defend acts of terror should be treated as threats and dealt with as such.
As of the time this report was filed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had not issued any detailed public statement on the matter. However, a brief message was posted on her official X (formerly Twitter) account where she wrote: “Jai Hind! Jai India!”
