CM announces Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to kin of victims of Pahalgam attack, martyred soldier

Kolkata: Reaching out to grieving families, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the kin of three Bengal tourists killed in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam.

Similarly in a gesture of solidarity, she also declared Rs 10 lakh in compensation for the family of Armyman Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh, who was martyred during an encounter with terrorists in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, shortly after the Pahalgam attack.

Banerjee delivered her message through the telephone while Chief Secretary Manoj Pant was holding a meeting at Nabanna Sabhaghar with a representation of Group C and Group D employees of state-run and state-aided schools whose appointments were annulled following an Apex Court verdict.

The compensation of Rs 10 lakh will be divided into Rs 5 lakh each between the wife and parents in cases where the victim is survived by both, as in the case of Bitan Adhikari, whose wife and parents live separately.

Additionally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced special measures for the family of software engineer Bitan Adhikari, taking into account his parent’s financial difficulties.

“I have spoken with the parents of Bitan. They are very old and his mother is sick. They will be getting a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 from the state Information and Cultural Affairs department which runs a pension scheme. I have already directed the local councillor to make immediate arrangements for a Swasthya Sathi card in the name of Bitan’s father so that their medical expenditure gets covered,” said Banerjee.

Apart from compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Banerjee said that government job will be offered to the wife of Jhantu Sheikh of Nadia.

“I have spoken with his wife who has passed Class XII. She has requested me for a job and we will offer her a job as per her qualifications on compassionate  ground,” said Banerjee directing Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to extend all possible assistance for education of two children of Jhantu who are presently in Army school.

The families of Samir Guha of Behala and Manish Ranjan, IB officer from Jhalda, Purulia the other two victims from the state will also get Rs 10 lakh compensation.

“It is the government’s commitment to stand by people in times of crisis. If any of the victims’ kin wants job, we will provide assistance,” said Banerjee. The Chief Minister who had condemned the terror attack said: “We will not bow down to terrorism. One has to progress in life overcoming grief and odds. The state government is just providing assistance so that those who have lost their family members can return to normal life.

Jhantu Sheikh’s last rites was performed on Saturday near his residence at Tehatta, Nadia after he was accorded gun salute.

Meanwhile, a three member team from National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited the residence of Samir Guha at Behala to record statements of his family members. This is part of NIA’s investigation into the terror attack recording statements of those who were present with the victim during the killing. The team later in the day also met the wife of Bitan Adhikari at Baishnabghata Patuli.