ALLAPUZHA: The family of 22-year-old Malayali medical student Savariya Basanth, who was allegedly murdered by her classmate in Uzbekistan, has alleged that she was brutally assaulted before her death.
Savariya, a native of Pilappuzha in Haripad, Alappuzha district, was allegedly killed by her classmate, 22-year-old Sadarul Anam, a native of Pulamanthole in Malappuram. Uzbek authorities have arrested the accused.
According to the family, Savariya's body bore multiple injuries from head to toe, suggesting she had been severely assaulted. They claimed the fatal head injury allegedly caused by a laptop was not the only cause of death and that she had sustained extensive injuries across her body.
Janeesh, Savariya's maternal uncle, who travelled to Uzbekistan to bring back her body, alleged that the accused had been pressuring her to convert her religion, but she had repeatedly refused.
"Fellow students informed me about the attempts at religious conversion. The attack was not an immediate provocation. She suffered brutal marks of torture from her legs to her head. So we decided to conduct a second postmortem to unravel the mystery," he said.
Savariya had enrolled at Bukhara State Medical University in December last year. Sadarul was her classmate. Both male and female students stayed in the same hostel, which housed several Malayali students.
According to her relatives, Savariya had completed her first semester with good academic results. Her mother, Mini, remained in regular contact with her by phone. When the family was unable to reach her on Friday, they contacted the university and later learned about the attack.
Savariya had completed her higher secondary education at VV HSS Naduvattam in Pallippad. Relatives and neighbours described her as a bright student who excelled academically and actively participated in the National Service Scheme, arts and cultural programmes. Her younger brother, Savanth, studies in Class 9 at Holy Angels School, Pallippad.
After her body was brought to Kerala, a second postmortem was conducted at Alappuzha Medical College. Her funeral was held at her residence in Pallippad.
Her father, Basanth, who works in Kuwait, returned to Kerala after the incident. Based on documents received from Uzbekistan, he filed a complaint with the Alappuzha District Police Chief seeking a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding his daughter's death.
Acting on the complaint, Haripad Police registered a case against Sadarul Anam, who remains in police custody in Uzbekistan.
Haripad Police said an investigation has been initiated and that they are awaiting the postmortem report.
"The accused is in police custody in Uzbekistan. We will take the necessary steps to bring him back after completing the required legal procedures," a police officer said.