- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Bitan Adhikary, a 40-year-old software engineer based in Florida was among the 26 people killed in a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Bitan, an employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), was vacationing with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son when they were ambushed by gunmen at the scenic Baisaran area, locally known as “Mini Switzerland.”
I got a message last night from Anushmita Bhattacharjee, a regular viewer of ours, and she had written “Sir you remember Bitan Adhikary?”
For a second it did not ring a bell. Thereafter she wrote saying he was a regular watcher of your shows, especially ABC with Mirchi Agni and… pic.twitter.com/M8WhVzwFMH
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 23, 2025
Adhikary’s life, which spanned across continents, is a story that resonates deeply within the diaspora. Having moved to the US in 2019 for professional commitments, Bitan built a stable and successful career in technology.
A graduate of West Bengal University of Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he served as a Test Manager at TCS and had earlier worked with Verizon, Cognizant, and Freddie Mac. Based in Brandon, Florida, he was well-respected within the tech community.
Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP leaders of Bengal have met the wife of son of Bengal Bitan Adhikari who lost his precious life in Pahalgam attack.
Wife said -he( bitan A) was a big time BJP supporter. I am here just for you.
May almighty give the family to overcome this phase. pic.twitter.com/xxWeCmqiRu
— Subham. (@subhsays) April 23, 2025
The attack, which unfolded during a family vacation to Kashmir, has left his family shattered. According to Sohini, the terrorists stormed the area and indiscriminately opened fire after asking tourists about their religion. “We were sitting on the grass at Mini Switzerland when suddenly armed men approached, asking who was Hindu and who was Muslim,” she recounted in an emotional statement to Telegraph India. “They didn’t give us time to move or run. They opened fire indiscriminately. My husband died on the spot.”
Bitan’s parents and siblings, based in Kolkata’s Behala area, were devastated by the news. His father shared that Bitan had originally wanted to take the entire family on the Kashmir trip, but was advised to go with just his wife and child due to logistics. His brother revealed that they had spoken earlier that day about planning a bigger family vacation upon his return.
The bereaved parents of Bitan Adhikary, who was killed in Pahalgam, ask: “Who will provide for us now? Who will give us food?”
Mother added , “There is a deep pain in my heart—what am I to do now? They should have taken my life instead.”#Kashmir #Pahelgam #PahelgamTerroristattack pic.twitter.com/J6JSrUT909— Kamalika Sengupta (@KamalikaSengupt) April 23, 2025
The incident has not only shaken Indian families back home but has also echoed throughout the diaspora, many of whom relate to Bitan’s journey of migration, ambition, and strong familial ties.
US President Donald Trump posted a message of solidarity on Truth Social, saying, “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism. Our hearts are with Prime Minister Modi and the incredible people of India.” Vice President JD Vance, currently on a visit to India, also extended condolences, noting that he and his wife Usha were heartbroken over the incident.
My heart goes out to the families of the victims of the devastating terrorist attack on the 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…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) April 22, 2025
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, expressed sorrow and support, assuring Adhikary’s family that the state government was taking all necessary steps to bring his mortal remains back home. She described the attack as “utterly reprehensible” and said such acts of terror “must not go unpunished.”
Bitan Adhikary’s death serves as a grim reminder of the global implications of terrorism. For the Indian American community, his story is more than just a news headline—it is a painful loss of one of their own, a reminder of the fragility of peace, and a call to stand united in grief and resolve.
