Mamata Banerjee condoles death of soldier in Kashmir

Kolkata: Expressing sadness over the killing of Indian soldier Dipak Kumar Maity in Kashmir, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday pledged all assistance to his bereaved family.

"Saddened to lose India's and Bengal's brave son Naik Dipak Kumar Maity, martyred... in Kashmir," Banerjee posted on twitter. She said the state stood in solidarity with his family in their hour of grief.

"The state government will extend all assistance," she said.

Maity was one of the two soldiers killed in a militant ambush on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Saturday.

Maity, 43, joined the Army in 1997. He hailed from Sabong in West Midnapur. He is survived by his wife Rikta and a 13-year-old daughter.