Nanded: Just four days before his 21st birthday, 20-year-old Saksham Tate was killed in Maharashtra’s Nanded district in what police believe was an honour-linked attack. Saksham, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste, had been in a relationship with 19-year-old Aanchal Mamilwad, a upper caste girl. She says her family opposed the relationship only because of his caste.
According to Aanchal, the events began on November 27 when her younger brother took her to a police station to file a false complaint against Saksham.
When she objected, she says two policemen, Dheeraj Komalwar and Maheet Asarwar, told her brother that instead of registering complaints, he should “finish him and then return.” She has publicly accused the officers of encouraging the attack.
That same evening, Saksham was intercepted in the Milindnagar area of Junaganj. The FIR states that Aanchal’s father Gajanan and her brothers Himesh and Sahil shot him and then smashed his head with a stone. Police detained eight people within hours, including a minor and a woman who is now in judicial custody. Four key accused are currently in police custody.
Authorities have booked the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Arms Act. Police also said Saksham and some of the accused had earlier criminal records, including past MCOCA proceedings. The investigation is now being led by ACP Prashant Shinde, who has said that both the murder case and the allegations against police personnel are being examined.
The case has drawn widespread attention from Pune to Nanded, with activists and student groups demanding a transparent probe and strict punishment.
In an emotional moment that went viral statewide, Aanchal visited Saksham’s home the day after his death and applied haldi and sindoor on his body, symbolically marrying him. She said they had planned to elope after his birthday, though Saksham always hoped to convince her family first. She said he was even ready to change his religion for their future together.
Aanchal, a first-year BSc student, said Saksham supported her studies and wanted both of them to join the civil services. She now says she will pursue that dream on his behalf. Saksham’s mother, heartbroken by the killing, has demanded capital punishment and reportedly assured she will support Aanchal’s education as her son wished.
Saksham would have turned 21 on Monday. “He wanted us to celebrate together, but now only his memories remain,” Aanchal said.
