Kerala medical student Sawariya Basanth killed over ‘forced conversion’ claims in Uzbekistan (Image/X)
NEW DELHI: A 21-year-old medical student from Kerala was murdered in Uzbekistan by a fellow student following repeated attempts to force her to convert her religion, according to her family’s complaint.Sawariya Basanth, a first-year student at the Bukhara State Medical Institute, was allegedly killed by 22-year-old Sadarul Anam, also a student from Kerala’s Malappuram district. Uzbek authorities have arrested Anam in connection with the case, local media reported. Following the repatriation of Basanth’s body, Indian authorities conducted a second post-mortem at Alappuzha Medical College Hospital on Thursday at the request of her family. Her relatives later performed her last rites.Harippad Police in Kerala have registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father.Station House Officer V Vishnu said the preliminary post-mortem findings indicated signs of physical assault.”We are yet to get official details of the crime from law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan. We will examine the legal standing of the case registered in Kerala for the crime recorded in Uzbekistan,” Vishnu said. According to the complaint filed by the family, Basanth had been repeatedly assaulted after resisting Anam’s alleged demands to convert her religion. The family also claimed that classmates were aware of the alleged harassment and pressure she had faced.Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Uzbekistan said it is extending all possible assistance to the victim’s family.”Embassy is extending all assistance to the family of deceased Ms Sawariya Basanth including on the repatriation of her mortal remains. Today, Ambassador met her family member. Embassy is also in constant touch with the concerned authorities in Uzbekistan,” the embassy said in a post on X. Indian authorities said they remain in touch with officials in Uzbekistan as the investigation into the case continues.
