Source TOI
NEW DELHI – In a shocking development involving Indian students overseas, the family of a 21-year-old medical student from Kerala has alleged that her murder in Uzbekistan was the culmination of relentless pressure to change her religion.
The victim, identified as Sawariya Basanth, was a first-year MBBS student at the Bukhara State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan. A native of Pilapuzha near Haripad in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Sawariya had traveled abroad in December to pursue her medical dreams.
Her life was cut short following what was initially reported as a violent dispute in Bukhara. Local Uzbek authorities have arrested the accused, 22-year-old Sadarul Anam, who is also a first-year medical student from Pulamanthole in Kerala’s Malappuram district.
Forced Conversion Claims Surface
According to local Uzbek media, the incident took place during a heated argument between the two friends, during which Anam allegedly struck Sawariya on the head with a laptop. She suffered severe trauma, collapsed, and later died at a local hospital.
However, following the repatriation of her mortal remains to India, the tragedy took a more serious turn. Sawariya’s family filed a formal complaint with the Kerala Police, explicitly alleging a motive of religious coercion.
“Her classmates informed us that she had been physically assaulted multiple times in the past,” stated Janeesh, the victim’s maternal uncle, who traveled to Uzbekistan to coordinate the return of her body. “He had been repeatedly forcing her to convert her religion, but she consistently resisted it. Her close friends were entirely privy to this harassment.”
Indian Authorities Step In
Upon arrival in Kerala, a second autopsy was conducted at the Alappuzha Government Medical College Hospital at the request of her grieving family. The preliminary findings of the domestic post-mortem report confirmed signs of severe physical assault, noting trauma to the head, spine, and abdomen. Following the procedure, her final rites were performed at her residence in Pallippad.
Taking immediate action on the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the Haripad Police have formally registered a murder case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“The domestic autopsy shows clear prima facie indications of physical assault,” said Station House Officer V Vishnu. “While the crime occurred overseas and the suspect is currently in Uzbek custody, we are examining the legal standing of the case registered here. We are waiting to receive official crime details from the law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tashkent has expressed its deepest condolences and confirmed it is actively working with both the family and international investigators.
“The Embassy is extending all assistance to the family of the deceased, Ms. Sawariya Basanth,” the Indian Embassy in Uzbekistan stated in an official communication. “The Ambassador has personally met with her family members, and the Embassy remains in constant contact with the concerned authorities in Uzbekistan to ensure a thorough investigation.”
As Uzbek law enforcement continues its probe into Sadarul Anam, Indian officials are working to establish direct legal cooperation to ensure justice for the young medical student.
