Inside Kerala Student Death Case In Uzbekistan: Islam Conversion Bid And Torture Allegations

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 18:31 IST

A Kerala medical student's death in Uzbekistan has sparked outrage, with her family alleging torture, brutal assault and pressure to convert to Islam.

The death of a 22-year-old medical student from Kerala in Uzbekistan has sparked outrage, with her family alleging that she was tortured, brutally assaulted and pressured to convert to Islam before her death.

Savariya Basanth, a native of Kerala, had moved to Uzbekistan to pursue her MBBS degree at Bukhara State Medical Institute. According to her family, she died on July 3 following an alleged assault by a fellow student, identified as 22-year-old Sadarul Anam from Kerala’s Malappuram district.

Investigators in Uzbekistan have reportedly informed the family that Basanth suffered multiple injuries before her death. A relative who travelled to Uzbekistan to bring back her body claimed that the victim had serious injuries across her body and disputed reports that she died solely from a blow to the head during an argument.

“She did not die because she was hit on the head with a laptop," the family member said, alleging that she had been subjected to severe physical assault before her death.

The family has also alleged that the accused had repeatedly pressured Basanth to convert to Islam. Citing information allegedly shared by investigators and fellow students, the relative claimed that several witnesses had seen the accused attempting to force the victim to change her religion.

“He had brutally assaulted her before killing her. We are seeking a fresh postmortem examination and have lodged a complaint to ensure he does not escape punishment if he is released by authorities in Uzbekistan," the family member said.

According to the family, both the accused and the victim were staying in the same hostel while studying in Uzbekistan.

Kerala Police Register Murder Case

Amid growing demands for a thorough investigation, Kerala Police have registered a murder case in connection with the student’s death.

Kayamkulam Deputy Superintendent of Police Binukumar T said the case was registered at Haripad Police Station based on a complaint filed by the victim’s parents with the district police chief. A postmortem examination was also conducted at Alappuzha Medical College after the body was brought back to India.

The officer said Kerala Police would monitor the progress of the investigation in Uzbekistan through the Indian Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs.

“Even though the crime occurred in Uzbekistan, there are provisions to register a case here. If the authorities there prosecute the accused, we will close the case. If no legal action is taken there, we will pursue the matter further," Binukumar said.

He added that reports suggest the accused has already been arrested in Uzbekistan, and Kerala Police will seek details of the case and the legal action being taken by local authorities.

The victim’s family has also demanded an independent probe in Kerala and sought the extradition of the accused to India.

“We will have to examine whether such a provision exists after taking legal advice and consulting the Ministry of External Affairs," the officer said.

The case has drawn significant attention in Kerala, with the family continuing to press for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Basanth’s death and the allegations of torture and religious coercion.

About the Author

Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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