A heartbreaking and violent incident from Maharashtra’s Nanded district has stunned India and ignited nationwide outrage. A 20-year-old man named Saksham was brutally murdered after being in a long-term relationship with a young woman, Aanchal. The couple had been together for nearly three years and planned to marry despite strong opposition and repeated threats from the girl’s family. Their love story took a tragic turn when the family allegedly decided to end it through violence.
Relationship Sparks Violence After Family Issues Deadly Threats
According to police reports, tension escalated when Aanchal expressed her decision to marry Saksham. Her father and brothers strongly opposed the relationship. Investigators say they allegedly abducted Saksham, took him to a secluded location, and attacked him without mercy. He was beaten, shot, and then bludgeoned with a stone to make sure he died instantly. The horrific brutality left the entire community in shock and raised serious concerns about rising honour-related violence.
Authorities confirmed that six individuals, including Aanchal’s father and brothers, have been arrested on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. Police continue to investigate the case to determine whether additional suspects were involved and to gather more evidence. The incident has once again highlighted the alarming frequency of honour killings in certain regions of India, where strict family control still overshadows personal choice.
Aanchal Marries Saksham During His Last Rites in Defiant Act
In a deeply emotional and symbolic act, Aanchal arrived at Saksham’s home during his last rites. Overwhelmed with grief yet determined to honor their bond, she applied turmeric to his body, filled her hair parting with sindoor, and declared herself his wife. She proclaimed, “Our love has won. My father and brothers have lost.” Her words reflected both heartbreak and defiance.
Aanchal also vowed to live in Saksham’s house as his daughter-in-law for the rest of her life. She demanded the death penalty for all those responsible for his murder and called for justice that reflects the severity of the crime. Her act of marrying her lover’s corpse has drawn emotional reactions across the country, further fuelling the debate on honour-based violence.
The tragedy underscores the ongoing struggle between personal freedom and rigid social norms in many communities. As activists point out, such cases reveal how individuals continue to suffer when family honor is placed above human rights and personal choice.
