Two Arrested for Blackmailing Victims, Leads to Tragic Suicide

Police in Auraiya have arrested two men and a juvenile for allegedly impersonating officers from the Cyber Crime Branch in Lucknow. The arrests follow a tragic incident in which a young man, identified as Anuraj, died by suicide on November 18, 2023, after being subjected to persistent blackmail through threatening phone calls.

Auraiya Superintendent of Police Abhishek Bharti reported that Anuraj received repeated threats claiming he was under investigation for viewing obscene content. The callers demanded money to “settle the matter,” threatening him with social humiliation if he failed to comply. Distressed by the ongoing harassment, Anuraj tragically took his own life by hanging himself at his residence.

Following Anuraj’s death, his family filed a complaint with local authorities. They described the anguish caused by the unknown callers, who instilled fear by falsely claiming that police were on their way to arrest him. The police investigation led to the identification of the suspects, who are all residents of Kanpur Dehat. The adults have been named as Narendra Singh, son of Kishanpal, and Lalsingh, son of Natthu.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to targeting random individuals to extort money by invoking fear of arrest and public disgrace. They reportedly utilized 23 SIM cards and three mobile phones to execute their scheme.

The police have noted that there are around 10 similar complaints filed on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal from various states and districts, indicating a broader pattern of this type of fraud.

Superintendent Bharti emphasized the importance of public awareness regarding such scams. He urged anyone receiving threatening calls claiming to be from police or court officials to remain calm and report the incident to the nearest police station or contact the Cyber Helpline at 1930.

The tragic outcome of Anuraj’s case highlights the severe psychological impact that cybercrime can have on individuals, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and protective measures against such fraudulent activities.