Pahalgam terror victim's family demands compensation for parents, not widow; Widow's family denies citizenship allegations

A controversy has emerged surrounding Sohini Adhikari, the widow of Bitan Adhikari, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Sohini’s brother-in-law, Vibhu Adhikari, has accused her of being a Bangladeshi citizen living illegally in India. Vibhu claims that Sohini has used forged documents to stay in the country, including two birth certificates that he alleges she manipulated to acquire Indian citizenship.

Vibhu further stated that a case of forgery was filed two years ago against Sohini and her mother, Bharati Ray, which is still pending in court. According to him, Sohini’s mother has since returned to Bangladesh, while Sohini continues to live in India without valid documentation. Vibhu also claimed that Sohini’s Indian passport expired in January 2023, and she has continued residing in India unlawfully since then.

In addition, Vibhu alleged that the house in Patuli, where Sohini lives with her son, was purchased using forged documents. He claimed the property was later gifted to her by her mother, which he described as part of the alleged fraudulent activities. Vibhu’s statements have raised serious questions about Sohini’s legal status in the country.

On the other hand, Sohini’s brother has strongly denied these allegations, calling them “completely false and baseless.” He stated that Sohini is currently too mentally and physically fragile to address the ongoing situation and has refrained from making public comments. When reporters visited her home, they were informed that Sohini was not in a condition to speak.

The controversy has also sparked a debate within Bitan’s family regarding compensation. Vibhu and other family members have expressed that if any government compensation is awarded, it should be given to the parents of the deceased, Bitan, and not to Sohini. They argued that Sohini does not have the legal right to stay in India and, therefore, should not be entitled to any compensation.