An 18-year-old Muslim college student was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men in India's Maharashtra state following allegations that he had harassed a girl, with a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader among two people arrested in connection with the killing, Maktoob reports.

Sameer Jabbar Patel, a first-year Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) student at Tuljabhawani Mahavidyalaya, was killed on the night of November 3 in Tuljapur town of Dharashiv district, formerly known as Osmanabad.

His relative, Arbaz Afsar Sayyad, was also allegedly abducted and assaulted during the incident, sustaining serious injuries.

Sameer's wedding had been scheduled for November 10, just seven days after his death.

According to a complaint filed by Sameer's mother, the teenager was assaulted with bamboo sticks and belts before his body was left near a parking area close to the Bharatibuwa Math temple. He was later taken to a government hospital in Tuljapur, where doctors declared him dead.

Police have arrested former Tuljapur Municipal Council president Santosh Devidas Kadam, also known as Parameshwar, and Sanjay Vilas Jadhav in connection with the killing. A court remanded both accused to seven days of police custody.

Kadam was previously associated with the Nationalist Congress Party before joining the BJP in November 2025 under the leadership of local BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinha Patil.

The allegations involving Sameer reportedly date back around three months before the killing.

According to his mother's complaint, Kadam had summoned Sameer and his parents to his residence over allegations that the teenager had been following and harassing the daughter of Kadam's brother-in-law.

The family alleged that Sameer was assaulted during the confrontation and warned to stay away from the girl.

Following the incident, Sameer reportedly stopped attending college and started working at a bakery while preparing for his first-year examinations, his mother stated in the First Information Report (FIR).

On November 3, Sameer went out to bring his uncle home after attending an examination. His uncle later informed the family that Sameer had been taken to Kadam's residence.

When Sameer's parents reached the house, they allegedly witnessed Kadam and another man assaulting their son over the dispute involving the girl.

According to the complaint, Kadam subsequently brought additional men to the residence. When the family attempted to rescue Sameer, the men allegedly took him away.

Sameer's mother also alleged that the family members were abused and threatened when they tried to intervene.

The FIR further names Pranav Devkate, who allegedly snatched her mobile phone and confined the family for several hours, preventing them from leaving.

A video seen by Maktoob reportedly shows a group of men assaulting Sameer.

The violence also involved Arbaz, who was reportedly sitting at a tea stall in Tuljapur when three men allegedly forced him into a vehicle and took him to an agricultural field.

Speaking to Maktoob, Arbaz said the men assaulted him with sticks, belts and rods, demanded his mobile phone password and searched his device.

He alleged that the assault continued even after the men found nothing objectionable on his phone.

“They took ₹10,000 from my pocket and beat me for nearly two hours, accusing me of earning money in their area while troubling girls,” Arbaz told Maktoob.

Arbaz further alleged that the attackers later brought Sameer to the agricultural field, where he was held and assaulted alongside the other men.

After returning home, Sameer's family learnt that Arbaz was missing and that his parents had approached the police.

Arbaz eventually returned home with serious injuries. According to the police account, he informed Sameer's family that the teenager had been assaulted and was lying near the Bharatibuwa Math temple.

The family rushed to the location and found Sameer critically injured. They took him to the government hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Following the killing, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Dharashiv district president Shahbaz Kazi, municipal representative Anwar Mujawar and other party members submitted a representation to the Dharashiv District Collector, demanding justice for Sameer, proper medical treatment for the injured Arbaz and strict action against those responsible.

“Sameer was the sole breadwinner of his family. We strongly condemn this unlawful act of violence and demand the strictest action against all those responsible. The police must ensure that everyone involved is held accountable,” Kazi told Maktoob.

Dharashiv Superintendent of Police Ritu Khoker Kalyan said police were searching for the remaining accused named in the FIR.

Police have registered a murder case along with charges of kidnapping and other relevant offences following the complaint filed by Sameer's mother. They have also seized the vehicle allegedly used in the incident.

The investigation is examining the alleged abduction, assaults at different locations and the circumstances surrounding Sameer's death.