Tragic Honor Killing in Maharashtra: Family Murders Man Over Inter-Caste Relationship as Girlfriend Performs Posthumous Marriage

Nanded:

The mother of 20-year-old Saksham Tate, who was allegedly murdered by his girlfriend's family in Maharashtra's Nanded, revealed that the accused had told her they wanted to remove a "thorn" from their lives, referring to her son.

Sangeeta Tate, 40, disclosed that the accused had given Saksham a rose plant with only thorns on his birthday, which she now sees as a disturbing foreshadowing of their intentions.

According to police reports, Saksham was killed last Thursday evening during a confrontation with his girlfriend Aanchal's brother Himesh Mamidwar while standing with friends in Nanded's old Ganj area.

Police stated that Himesh allegedly shot Saksham, with the bullet piercing his ribs, before fatally striking him on the head with a tile. Himesh, his brother Sahil (25), and their father Gajanan Mamidwar (45) were promptly arrested. Authorities indicated the murder appeared to be motivated by caste differences between Saksham and Aanchal.

Speaking to reporters, Sangeeta Tate accused Aanchal's father and brothers of orchestrating her son's murder.

"Initially, Aanchal's family pretended to support their relationship. Her father had even carried Saksham on his shoulders during a festival. But their attitude changed dramatically. On Saksham's birthday, while his friends brought bouquets, Aanchal's family presented him with a rose plant having only thorns," she explained.

"They claimed the plant symbolized their love. Later, Aanchal's brothers told me they gave him thorns because they wanted to remove the thorn from their lives. And they succeeded... they killed my son," she added, demanding severe punishment for the perpetrators.

Aanchal previously reported that on the day of the murder, her brother Himesh took her to Itwara police station in Nanded that morning, pressuring her to file a complaint against Saksham, which she refused to do.

Following his murder, Aanchal married Saksham's corpse, stating this act would make their love "immortal."

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar strongly condemned the killing and praised Aanchal's courage.

In a social media statement, he wrote that Saksham, a young Buddhist man, was brutally murdered due to caste hatred by Aanchal's family. He emphasized that Aanchal's bold stand deserved complete support.

"After Saksham's murder, Aanchal demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and declared she would marry him even in death. Her courage is extraordinary. We firmly support both her and Saksham's family," Ambedkar stated.

Republican Sena chief Anandraj Ambedkar described the incident as an unhealable wound.

"A young man's dreams, life, and entire family were destroyed in moments. Aanchal's decision to marry his body reflects not only her love but her refusal to surrender to injustice," he said, promising continued support until justice is achieved.

On Wednesday, VBA leader Anjali Ambedkar visited the grieving Tate family in Nanded, spoke with Aanchal, and pledged support.

She noted that Saksham had always dreamed of seeing Aanchal become an officer.

"To honor Saksham's dream, the VBA will take full responsibility for Aanchal's education," she promised.

"Live wherever you feel safe, we will arrange everything," Ambedkar assured Aanchal.