Nanded— In a shocking and emotionally charged incident in Maharashtra’s Nanded district, a young woman “married” her boyfriend during his funeral rites after he was allegedly murdered by her own family over caste differences.
The victim, 20-year-old Saksham Tate, was brutally assaulted, his head smashed with a stone, and then shot dead on Thursday. Police said the attack was carried out by the woman’s father and brothers, who opposed the relationship because Tate belonged to a different caste.
At Tate’s funeral, the woman — Aanchal — arrived at his home and shocked many by applying turmeric to his body and then placing vermilion (sindoor) on her forehead in his name, symbolically “marrying” him. She then declared she would live in Tate’s home as his wife for the rest of her life.
“Our love won, even in Saksham’s death, and my father and brothers lost,” she said, standing beside his body. “Even though Tate is dead, our love is still alive.”
Three-year relationship defied threats
According to police, Aanchal and Tate met through her brothers and fell in love over three years of interactions when Tate frequently visited their home. However, caste differences triggered severe opposition from her family, who repeatedly pressured her to end the relationship.
Despite threats, Aanchal continued seeing Tate. Matters escalated when her family learned the two were planning to marry, leading to the fatal assault.
Six arrested; woman demands death penalty
Police have arrested six accused in connection with Tate’s murder and said interrogations are underway. Aanchal has demanded the death penalty for her father and brothers, insisting that justice must be served.
The incident has reignited conversations about caste violence, honour killings, and the extreme measures families sometimes take to prevent inter-caste relationships — even as young couples continue to defy these boundaries.
