Bengaluru woman dies by suicide after repeated ‘harassment’ by acquaintance

A 22-year-old woman from Shivamogga district in Karnataka died by suicide in southeast Bengaluru on Saturday after allegedly being harassed and blackmailed by an acquaintance, according to police. The woman, who had moved to Bengaluru about a year ago for employment, was staying in a paying-guest accommodation and worked in the sales department of a jewellery store.

The woman's roommate called her around 10.20 am on Saturday to inform her that the woman had left a suicide note, which was read by her sister. The note allegedly stated that a man had been blackmailing and harassing her for an extended period, including through phone calls, messages, photographs and videos. The woman's family and police subsequently searched the area and found her body, after which an autopsy was performed.

The police have registered a case for abetment of suicide based on the sister's complaint, but they are still investigating whether the man actually had photographs or videos and used them to harass or blackmail the woman. The man is missing, and investigators are still determining the validity of the allegations.