Kolkata monuments don French colours in memory of Paris victims

Showing solidarity towards those killed in last week's grisly Paris terror attack, two of the city's iconic monuments - the Victoria Memorial and the Shaheed Minar - have been illuminated in the French national colours.

"It's our humble attempt to show solidarity with all those who lost their lives in the attack and express concern on the growing magnitude of terrorism across the globe," Victoria curator Jayanta Sengupta said on Friday.

Sengupta said the monument dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria will remain illuminated in the French tricolor for a week.

The Shaheed Minar was erected in 1828, in memory of Major General Sir David Ochterlony, commander of the British East India Company. It was re-dedicated to the memory of the martyrs of the Indian freedom movement in August 1969.

The coordinated Mumbai-style bombings and shootings in the French capital on November 13 killed 129 people and injured some 350 others.

While people from all walks of life took out candle-light vigil post the attack, a minute's silence was observed during the inauguration of the 21st edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival on Saturday to pay respects to the terror attack victims.