Couple poison themselves after being blackmailed by anonymous miscreants

SHIVAMOGGA: A 22-year-old youth had died and as his lover was battling for life in a Shivamogga hospital after they both had consumed poison. Because they were being blackmailed by anonymous miscreants, who had captured the intimate moments of the couple on a cellphone. The police say that the extortionists had threatened them to post the video on social media if they did not pay Rs 5 lakh.

On Monday disturbed over the developments, the lovers had consumed poison. The boy died on Wednesday, while the girl is still battling for life at the McGaan hospital. Police have taken one man into custody and the investigation is on.

Police said that the youth was from Hosur Matti and had been working in a local rice mill. He fell in love with a girl from Ragi Hosahalli. Few days ago, extortionists had captured their intimate moments and then began demanding money for deleting the video.

Eventually the two lovers decided to poison themselves. They both went to the Mandaghatta village near Kumsi on Monday and consumed poison on the bank of a lake. The villagers had found them and rushed them to the McGaan hospital. Police say that the call records and messages on the boy’s phone show a series of conversations that took place between the boy and the miscreants.

The mother of the boy said that, “My son was a good boy, but some people began blackmailing him. They killed my son for a silly reason.”

The boy’s sister said: “We knew he was in love. He was tortured by a group who demanded money to delete the video.”