The alleged accused, Sadarul Anam, 22, was arrested following the incident. (Credit: Unsplash)A medical student from Kerala has been accused of killing his classmate — also from the state — in Uzbekistan Friday, with the victim’s family alleging that he had attempted to force her to convert.The victim has been identified as Sawariya Basanth, 21, a native of Harippad in Alappuzha district. She was a first-year medical student at Bukhara State Medical Institute in Uzbekistan.The alleged accused, Sadarul Anam, 22, is a native of Pulamanthole in Malappuram district. He was arrested following the incident. Sawariya’s body was flown to Kerala, where a second postmortem was conducted Thursday following a complaint from her family.The body was cremated Thursday. Back in Kerala, Harippad Police also registered a murder case based on a complaint filed by Sawariya’s father, Basanth, who is employed in Kuwait.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.— India in Uzbekistan (@amb_tashkent) July 7, 2026Harippad SHO V Vishnu said: “We have registered a case under section 103 of BNS. We are yet to get official details of the crime from law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan. The postmortem conducted in Alappuzha medical college has prima facie indications of physical assault. We will examine the legal standing of the case registered in Kerala for the crime recorded in Uzbekistan”.Also Read | Who was Srinath Reddy? Indian student from Telangana found dead in London accommodationBasanth’s relative Janeesh told the media that Sadarul had been “forcing Sawariya to convert”.Physically assaulted, say classmates“Her classmates had informed us that she was physically assaulted many times. He had been forcing her to get converted, but she resisted it. Her friends are privy to these incidents,” Janeesh said.Police said the family, in its complaint, had also raised the allegation of an attempted forced conversion.Story continues below this adAlso Read | Indian student killed in Canada was ‘assaulted by 10-12 boys, run over by vehicle’In Malappuram, Sadarul’s family confirmed that he was arrested following Sawariya’s death at a hospital. “Sawariya was in a relationship with Sadarul and wanted to marry him. But he was not open to her proposal. Her family in Alappuzha also knows about it. Both were slated to fly back to Kerala on July 9. The tickets were booked from Malappuram for both of them,” a relative said.Also Read | ‘Would I have died a murderer?’ Mumbai man wrongly held for Glasgow killing“On Friday, there was a dispute between the duo in his hostel room. Sadarul went out of the room for some time and when he returned, she was found unconscious. Sadarul immediately sought medical assistance and took her to the hospital in an ambulance. She died Friday evening after a surgical procedure on head,” the relative said.He said Sawariya’s family did not approve of her relationship with Sadarul. His family also alleged that her relative had threatened Sadarul’s father, Hydrose, saying his son would be “finished” if he returned to Kerala.Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More