Chikkamagaluru: A 24-year-old woman died by suicide, allegedly driven to the extreme step after being sexually exploited, blackmailed, and harassed by two men.Priya died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mangaluru. Police said a case of abetment of suicide and harassment has been registered at Koppa police station.According to a complaint filed by her stepmother, Shanti, Priya was in a relationship with Manoj Kumar, a resident of Chowdikatte in Jayapura, and their families had agreed to their marriage. During this period, she came in contact with Arun, a resident of Sunkasale in Kalasa taluk, who allegedly took her to Ujire, sexually exploited her, and later began harassing her.The complaint alleges that Arun recorded a video of Priya and demanded money from her, threatening to share the footage on social media and with her father if she failed to comply. Distressed by the alleged harassment, Priya is said to have consumed poison.Police said Priya had gone to Manoj’s sister’s house in Jogisara near Koppa on Sept. 22 and stayed there. The following day, she allegedly consumed poison, after which Manoj admitted her to the Koppa govt hospital on Sept. 23.Priya returned home on Sept 24 evening and complained of stomach ache and vomiting. She was initially taken to a nearby clinic and to govt hospital in Mudigere, where she reportedly told her sister-in-law, Kruthi, that she had consumed poison.She was subsequently referred to the Chikkamagaluru District Hospital and later shifted to Wenlock hospital in Mangaluru for advanced treatment. However, she succumbed without responding to treatment, police said.In her complaint, Shanti sought legal action against Arun and Manoj, alleging that sexual exploitation, blackmail, and mental harassment drove her daughter to take the extreme step.
