Chatting on WhatsApp claimed the lives of a married man and his friend within a span of the two days in Hyderabad, the city police said on Sunday.
27-year-old Shiva Kumar committed suicide on Saturday allegedly after his wife was chiding him for continuously chatting with his friend, Venella, on WhatsApp. She even threatened to complain and bring the incident to the notice of family elders. Shiva was a resident of Maredpally in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad.
According to an official at the Maredpally police station, Shiva Kumar ended his life by hanging himself when he was alone in his house. He did this after his wife Lahari took him to task for continuously chatting with his friend, a resident of the same neighbourhood, the police claimed.
Shiva, an electrician, had gotten married last month, but remained in touch with his childhood friend over the phone. The police said that his wife, Lahari, had repeatedly asked her husband to stop chatting with Venella.
Some media reports also suggested that Shiva and Venella were in a relationship, which may have led to the duo taking the extreme step.
After learning about Shiva Kumar's suicide, Venella slipped into depression. With locals blaming her for his death, she consumed acid on Saturday. She succumbed at the government-run Gandhi Hospital on Sunday as she was undergoing treatment, police said.
According to data released by the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), ‘family problems’ are the main reason behind suicides in the country, contributing to 27.6% of the total figure. Meanwhile, marriage related problems account for 4.8% and ‘love affairs’ account for 3.3% of all suicides.
Those in need of counselling can contact Roshni, a suicide helpline operational every day from 11 am to 9 pm. Roshni can be reached at 040 66202000/2001.
IANS inputs