Mamata hands over job appointment letters to wives of Iraq victims from Nadia, assures all help in future

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handed over appointment letters of jobs to the next of kin of the two persons from Nadia, who were killed in Iraq.

The state government has also given a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to each of the families and assured further help to them.

The two of them are out of the 39 people from India who fell victim to the gruesome killing by the IS in Iraq. Both the victims were residents of Nadia district. Khokan Sikdar was a resident of Tehatta Chitka village, while Samar Thikadar was a resident of Chapra Mahakhola. Their mortal remains had been brought to their villages on Tuesday.

Family members of the victims visited the state secretariat Nabanna on Friday. The Chief Minister handed over the appointment letters for job in home guard to Khokan's wife Namita Sikdar and Samar's wife Dipali Thikadar.

Dipali's daughter Sharmistha was also accompanying her. Namita also came along with her son Abhra and daughter Gita, who is a BA student at present.

After speaking to the bereaved family members, the Chief Minister accompanied them when they were leaving the state secretariat. They were assured all support by the state government for studies of their children and even if they need any other sort of help. Sources said that they have requested if it would be possible for her to give them jobs in some other department, instead of home guards.

It may recalled that on the day when all hopes of the family members of Khokan and Samar came to an end, following the announcement of External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on March 20, the Chief Minister had tweeted: "Deeply saddened and shocked by the very sad news from #Mosul. Words are not enough to console the 39 grieving families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them".