Police in Nanded, Maharashtra, have arrested eight individuals, including the family members of a 21-year-old woman, in connection with the alleged honour killing of her boyfriend, Saksham Tatte, a man belonging to a Scheduled Caste. The arrests followed a swift investigation into the murder, which stemmed from a deeply entrenched inter-caste relationship that the woman’s family vehemently opposed.
The victim, Saksham Tatte, was allegedly confronted and brutally murdered by his girlfriend, Aachal Mamilwar’s, family after they learned he was present in the locality. According to reports, the group, led by Aachal’s father, Gajanan Mamilwar, and her two brothers, Sahil and Himesh, first shot Saksham before assaulting him with a large stone, leading to his death at the scene.
Aachal Mamilwar confirmed that the three-year relationship had been a source of significant tension, primarily because of Saksham’s caste identity. She claimed her family would only agree to the marriage if Saksham converted to Hinduism, a condition he was reportedly prepared to accept. Despite the family’s repeated warnings, the couple continued their relationship.
In a shocking testimony to the media, Aachal made an explosive allegation, suggesting that the murder was instigated by a police officer’s taunt. She claimed her brother was at the police station to file a false case against Saksham when an officer allegedly challenged him: “Instead of fabricating cases, why don’t you actually kill the concerned person before coming to us?” Aachal stated her brother took this comment “as a challenge.” This allegation, if proven true, adds a disturbing layer to the case, suggesting a complete breakdown of law enforcement protocol.
The incident was followed by a dramatic display of protest and love by Aachal, who married Saksham’s corpse before his funeral. Applying his blood to her forehead like vermilion, she vowed to remain with his family. Furthermore, she publicly demanded the death penalty for her own parents and brothers, accusing them of conspiring to murder Saksham shortly after his release from jail, and linking the attack directly to his caste. “The killers of Saksham should be given the death penalty. I want justice,” she asserted.
The Nanded police registered a case of murder and invoked the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act based on a complaint filed by Saksham’s mother. Authorities have acknowledged that both the victim and the accused had prior criminal records. The eight individuals were apprehended within 12 hours of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing to establish the full sequence of events and verify all claims.
