NIA questions Sohini Adhikari, wife of Pahalgam terror attack victim, in ongoing investigation

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted an interrogation of Sohini Adhikari, the wife of Bitan Adhikari, one of the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The deadly attack, which targeted Hindu tourists, occurred on 25 April in Pahalgam, Kashmir, and claimed the lives of three tourists from West Bengal. Sohini was questioned by NIA officials on Sunday evening at her residence in Patuli, South Kolkata. The questioning lasted for nearly three hours.

During the inquiry, NIA officials gathered detailed information from Sohini about the family's travel route and activities leading up to their visit to Pahalgam. They specifically focused on the locations they visited before arriving in Kashmir. According to official sources, the NIA also asked about the events during the attack, the number of militants she and her family observed, and any other significant details that could aid in the investigation. It is believed that the militants deliberately targeted Hindu tourists during the assault.

Sohini and Bitan Adhikari, along with their three-year-old son Hridaan, were in Pahalgam when the attack took place. Bitan Adhikari, who was working and residing in Florida, USA, was killed in the attack, while his wife and son survived unharmed. The family had returned to Kolkata on 8 April before setting out for a trip to Kashmir on 16 April. They were scheduled to return to the US after the trip, but after the tragic death of Bitan in the attack, Sohini and Hridaan returned to Kolkata immediately.

The NIA’s investigation into the attack continues, with authorities focusing on identifying the militants involved and understanding the sequence of events during the assault. Previously, the agency had questioned the wife and daughter of Sameer Guha, another tourist from West Bengal who was killed in the attack. Sameer Guha, a former central government officer, was traveling with his family when the militants struck.

As the investigation progresses, the NIA is also expected to question the family of the third victim, Manish Ranjan Mishra, a senior officer in the Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB), who was also killed in the attack. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for the families of each of the victims. The state government is providing the financial aid as a mark of solidarity with the affected families in the aftermath of this tragic incident.