NEW DELHI: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) expresses profound grief and deep concern over the brutal murder of Indian student Savariya Basant, who was pursuing her studies at Bukhara State Medical Institute, Uzbekistan, and demands that the entire matter be investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to the facts available in the public domain, the student was allegedly subjected to sustained pressure for religious conversion and, after her continued resistance, was brutally murdered. This incident cannot be viewed merely as an ordinary criminal offence.
Prima facie, it also raises serious concerns regarding an organised conspiracy operating under the guise of Love Jihad, driven by radical extremist ideology and a well-planned criminal network. Therefore, it is imperative that all aspects of the case, including the possible organised nexus, financial linkages, and international connections, be investigated impartially and expeditiously by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and that the guilty be awarded the strictest punishment under the law.
During the National Executive Council Meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad held in Bhubaneswar, a resolution titled “Curbing Organised Criminal and Jihadi Mindset Behind the Exploitation of Women and Religious Conversion” was adopted.
The resolution unequivocally highlighted that organised attempts involving Love Jihad, deception, false identity, psychological coercion, cyber blackmail, and coordinated networks targeting women and young girls for exploitation and illegal religious conversion constitute a matter of grave national concern.
ABVP firmly believes that such acts not only violate the dignity, freedom, and constitutional rights of women but also pose a serious threat to social harmony, national unity, and internal security.
ABVP urges the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with the Indian Embassy and the concerned authorities in Uzbekistan to ensure that the accused is brought to justice at the earliest and awarded the strictest punishment through all necessary diplomatic and legal measures.
Simultaneously, an effective security and assistance mechanism must be developed for Indian students studying abroad, particularly women students. In line with the resolution adopted by the National Executive Council, ABVP reiterates the need for a stringent national legal framework, a robust investigative mechanism, fast-track judicial processes, awareness campaigns in educational institutions, and women empowerment initiatives such as Mission Sahasi to effectively combat Love Jihad, exploitation of women, fraudulent religious conversion, cyber blackmail, and other organised crimes of a similar nature.
ABVP National General Secretary Dr Virendra Singh Solanki stated, “The brutal murder of Indian student Savariya Basant in Uzbekistan is deeply tragic and a matter of serious concern. If a student was subjected to pressure for religious conversion and subsequently murdered for resisting such coercion, the investigation should not remain confined to treating it merely as an individual criminal act. If any organised network associated with Love Jihad or any radical extremist ecosystem is found to be involved, the entire conspiracy must be thoroughly exposed.
ABVP reiterates its demand for an NIA investigation into this case, exemplary punishment for the culprits, a comprehensive national mechanism to ensure the safety of Indian students studying abroad, and stringent national legislation along with a strong legal framework to curb Love Jihad and fraudulent religious conversion targeting women. Ensuring the dignity, safety, and constitutional rights of women is the responsibility of the government, and any leniency towards such organised crimes is wholly unacceptable.”
