What began as a serene family getaway to the scenic valleys of Pahalgam in Kashmir ended in a horrific tragedy that tore through the hearts of three families from Bengal. The lush green meadows and snow-capped peaks bore silent witness to an unthinkable act of terror. Three innocent lives — husbands, fathers, sons — were brutally taken in a targeted militant attack, leaving behind a trail of grief, trauma and unanswered questions.
Two of the victims, Sameer Guha and Bitan Adhikari, were from Kolkata, while Manish Ranjan hailed from Purulia district.
Sameer, a central government employee and resident of Sakherbazar in Behala, had travelled to Kashmir with his wife Shabri and daughter, hoping to create beautiful memories. Instead, he became the target of cold-blooded violence.
In an emotionally devastating recount, Shabri, fighting back tears, described the nightmare that unfolded before her eyes.
“Masked men appeared out of nowhere and surrounded us. They were armed. They ordered everyone to lie flat on the ground. We complied — paralysed by fear. Then… they chose my husband and one other. And they shot them,” she recounted.
Sameer was due to return home on Wednesday.
State Minister Firhad Hakim visited the grieving neighbourhood and spoke with locals following the tragic news.
Expressing deep sorrow, he said, “Those who attack innocent tourists are nothing but cowards. Sameer had gone to Kashmir with his family to enjoy a holiday — now, he is returning in a coffin. I am at a loss for words.”
He further added that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is personally in touch with the bereaved family and has assured them of every possible support during this heartbreaking time.
Another life extinguished was that of Bitan Adhikari, a young man from Vaishnavghata Patuli in south Kolkata, who had travelled to Kashmir with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son Hridan. Bitan, who worked with a multinational company and was based in Florida, had returned to Kolkata on April 8 for a family visit.
On April 16, the family set off on what they thought would be a rejuvenating holiday in Jammu and Kashmir. On Tuesday, Bitan spoke to his family back home — a routine call, full of cheer. Just an hour later, everything changed.
In a harrowing moment, Sohini witnessed her husband being gunned down by militants in front of her and their young child. Their return to Kolkata, planned for the following Thursday, now unfolds in unbearable silence and sorrow.
The third victim, Manish Ranjan, from Jhalda in Purulia, was a dedicated officer of the central Intelligence Bureau (IB). Although posted in Hyderabad, his elderly parents continued to reside in their ancestral home in Purulia.
The news of their son’s tragic death has left them utterly shattered and speechless, struggling to come to terms with the unimaginable loss.
As the nation mourns, the pain felt in Kolkata and Purulia echoes across the country. These were not soldiers. Not politicians. Just families on holiday, hoping to find peace among the snow-capped peaks. Instead, they found horror.
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