Kerala: Medical student Sawariya killed by Sadarul Anam for refusing to convert to Islam in Uzbekistan

A 21-year-old medical student from Kerala was murdered by her classmate in Uzbekistan, prompting Kerala Police to register a murder case while the victim's family has alleged that she was being subjected to repeated pressure to convert her religion.

The victim, Sawariya Basanth, a native of Harippad in Alappuzha district, was pursuing her first-year MBBS at Bukhara State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan. The accused, Sadarul Anam (22), a resident of Pulamanthole in Malappuram district and her classmate, has reportedly been arrested by Uzbek authorities.

 

 

According to the victim's family, Sawariya was assaulted following an argument. Family members have further claimed that the accused had been repeatedly pressuring her to convert her religion, an allegation that now forms part of the complaint submitted to the Kerala Police.

Based on a complaint filed by Sawariya's father, Basanth, the Harippad Police have registered a case under Section 103 (Murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials said they are awaiting official documentation from Uzbek authorities before proceeding further with the investigation.

Harippad Station House Officer V. Vishnu said the postmortem conducted at Alappuzha Government Medical College Hospital showed prima facie indications of physical assault. He added that the police would examine the legal aspects of pursuing a case in Kerala for a crime that occurred in Uzbekistan.

 

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According to the family, Sawariya's body bore multiple injuries suggestive of severe assault. Her maternal uncle, Janeesh, who travelled to Uzbekistan to bring back her body, claimed that fellow students had informed the family about repeated incidents of physical assault and attempts to force her into religious conversion.

"Her classmates informed us that she was physically assaulted several times. He had been forcing her to convert, but she resisted. Her friends were aware of these incidents," Janeesh told reporters.

He further stated that the attack was not the result of an immediate provocation and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Owing to the family's concerns, a second postmortem was conducted at Alappuzha Government Medical College after the body was flown back to Kerala.

Police officials confirmed that the complaint submitted by the family includes allegations relating to attempted forced religious conversion. However, they said these claims would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation after obtaining evidence and official inputs from Uzbek authorities.

Reports indicate that Sawariya had joined Bukhara State Medical Institute in December last year and had successfully completed her first semester. According to family members, they lost contact with her shortly before the incident and later learned about the attack through the university administration.

Sawariya was described by relatives and neighbours as a bright student who actively participated in National Service Scheme (NSS) activities and cultural programmes during her school years. She is survived by her parents and a younger brother. Her father, who works in Kuwait, returned to Kerala following the incident.

Her funeral was held at her residence in Pallippad after the second postmortem.

The investigation is currently being handled by Uzbek authorities, while Kerala Police have initiated parallel legal proceedings based on the complaint filed by the victim's family and are coordinating to obtain official records related to the case.