A chilling case of honor killing from Nanded, Maharashtra, has shaken the nation—one that blends unbearable grief, defiance, and a young woman’s fierce demand for justice. What unfolded in this small city has now become one of the most disturbing yet powerful stories of love destroyed by caste violence.
A Love Story Silenced by Hate
Twenty-one-year-old Aanchal Mamidwar and her 20-year-old boyfriend Saksham (Samarth) Tate had been in love for three years. Their relationship, however, faced constant threats from Aanchal’s family, who opposed the match solely due to caste differences.
On Thursday evening, the simmering tension turned deadly.
According to police reports, Saksham was talking with friends in the Old Ganj area when Aanchal’s brother Himesh Mamidwar confronted him. Moments later, an argument escalated into violence—Himesh allegedly shot Saksham, the bullet tearing through his body, and then smashed his head with a tile. Saksham died on the spot.
Police swiftly arrested Aanchal’s father Gajanan, and brothers Himesh and Sahil, along with several accomplices. A case under murder, rioting, the Arms Act, and the SC/ST Act has been registered.
A Wedding Performed Amid Death
What happened next stunned the entire locality.
When Saksham’s body returned home for last rites, Aanchal broke down—but then took a hauntingly symbolic step. She decided to marry her deceased lover, performing every ritual that was denied to them in life.Witnesses said the moment left everyone in tears.
Aanchal applied turmeric on Saksham’s body,
filled his forehead with vermilion,and cracked a coconut before his final journey—symbolic gestures of a Hindu wedding.
“My family conspired to kill him… but they lost. Our love won. Even in death, I am his bride,” she cried, vowing never to return to her parental home. She has now moved into Saksham’s house and demanded death penalty for her father and brothers.
A Fight for Justice
Aanchal told the media that her family had repeatedly threatened both of them.
“For three years we loved each other. But my father and brothers killed him. They should be hanged,” she said with trembling voice, yet unbroken resolve.
Her testimony, along with Saksham’s mother’s complaint, has now brought the case under the intense focus of police and rights groups.
Police Probe Points to Honor Killing
Investigators confirm the Mamidwar family had been aggressively opposing the inter-caste relationship. They are probing caste hatred as a key motive. Police also revealed that both Saksham and Himesh had previous minor criminal records and were once close friends—a detail that adds another layer of complexity.
But for now, the central reality remains:
a life lost, a family shattered, and a young woman fighting a battle far bigger than her age.
A Story That Questions Society
This tragedy forces society to confront an uncomfortable truth:
In 2025, India is still witnessing brutal killings in the name of caste.
For many, Aanchal’s heartbreaking act—marrying a dead lover—is a symbolic scream against generational prejudice, violence, and patriarchal control.
As the investigation continues, the nation watches and hopes that justice will not be another casualty.