A 26-year-old woman has ended her life in Kerala’s Kottayam district following alleged cyber bullying of her former friend, the police said.

The police said that V M Athira, a native of Manjoor in the district, was found dead at her home on Monday, a day after she lodged a complaint against her male friend named Arun Vidyadharan who lives barely a kilometre away.

Following the suicide of Athira, Arun has been booked on charges of abetting suicide, officials said. The youth has gone into hiding.

According to the police, despite Athira snapping her friendship with Arun, he continued to trouble her by sharing their past chat history and her photos on social media, especially after Athira’s family was getting marriage proposals for her.

Athira’s brother-in-law Ashish Das, a Manipur cadre IAS officer, in his Facebook post said that his sister’s suicide can no better be termed murder by a cyberbully. “I promise you my dear, your killer will be brought to justice and ensure maximum punishment. Will make sure this fate will not happen to any other girl,” Das stated.

Athira had complained to the local police against Arun alleging that he was insulting her on social media.

Ashish Das told reporters on Tuesday that Athira resorted to the extreme step following cyberbullying. “After Athira complained to the police, Arun stepped up the attack and threatened her. We, the family members, comforted her and stood with her. She was very upset that Arun had dragged my name also into the issue,” he said.

Kaduthuruthy police station house officer Sajeev Cheriyan said that the police got the complaint on Sunday night. “Immediately, we called Arun and asked him to report at the station the next day. We have traced him and he will be arrested soon,” said the inspector.

Athira had reportedly got estranged from him due to his shady dealings with drug peddlers.

https://padlet.com/muskutha/book-report-8xwdoi8dald15zf3/wish/2920115797

By-

Muskan Thakur

Fybed

Clara college