Murder Case Registered in Kerala After Student's Death in Uzbekistan
Police in Alappuzha, Kerala, have registered a murder case in connection with the death of a 22-year-old female medical student in Uzbekistan last week. The case was filed on Wednesday based on a complaint from the victim's family, according to an officer at Haripad police station.
Kayamkulam Deputy Superintendent of Police Binukumar T confirmed to PTI that a murder case was registered at Haripad police station following a complaint lodged by the deceased student's parents with the District Police Chief. A postmortem was conducted at Alappuzha Medical College.
Legal Provisions and International Cooperation
Binukumar explained that although the crime occurred in Uzbekistan, Indian law allows for a case to be registered in Kerala. “If the police there prosecute the accused, we will close the case. If no legal action is taken there, we will pursue the case further,” he said.
The Kerala Police plan to communicate with Uzbek authorities through the Indian Embassy to track the investigation. “There are reports that the accused has been arrested there. We will proceed through the Ministry of External Affairs to obtain details of the case and the action being taken by the authorities in Uzbekistan,” Binukumar added.
Family Alleges Torture and Religious Conversion Attempt
The accused, a classmate of the victim from Malappuram, allegedly struck her on the head during a heated argument, causing her death. However, the victim's family disputed this account, claiming serious injuries all over her body.
A family member who traveled to Uzbekistan to retrieve the body told reporters that investigators there indicated the victim was tortured and brutally beaten before death. “She did not die because she was hit on the head with a laptop,” he contended. He also alleged that the accused was seen by many students forcing the victim to convert her religion. “He had brutally assaulted her a lot before killing her. So, we are seeking a postmortem here and have lodged a complaint here to ensure he does not escape if he is let off by the police in Uzbekistan,” the family member said.
Demand for Extradition and Further Investigation
The family is demanding that the investigation be conducted in Kerala and that the accused be extradited from Uzbekistan. Binukumar noted, “We will have to check for any such provision after taking legal advice and consulting with the External Affairs Ministry.”
The family also revealed that the accused's parents are government employees and his brother is a doctor. The victim and accused lived in the same hostel in Uzbekistan.
