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Bijnor: A 28-year-old woman in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide a day before her wedding anniversary, allegedly after prolonged online harassment and intimidation. The case has drawn attention to the growing threat of so-called “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonate officials to instil fear.

The woman, identified as Monika, was found hanging in her room while her two daughters, aged 8 and 11, were asleep. The incident came to light the next morning when the children discovered her body. Initially, the family performed her last rites without informing the police, fearing social stigma.

Days later, a suicide note was found, shedding light on the mental pressure she had been facing. Addressing her daughter, she wrote, “Sorry Jiya, mummy ko marna hi padhega.” She then addressed her husband and said, “I want to tell you something, actually a lot. There is one person who is blackmailing me nowadays. He had been pressuring me for a long time. As a result, I am taking this extreme step. Please forgive me if possible.”

Her family checked her phone after finding the note. It reportedly contained multiple calls, messages and audio recordings from several unknown numbers. The callers posed as Crime Branch officials and accused her of serious crimes like trafficking to intimidate her.

Even during her cremation, her phone received calls. A relative who answered one video call said that the caller appeared in a police uniform and demanded to speak to her. When told of her death, the caller allegedly issued threats.

The calls continued with the accused threatening legal action and harm to family members.

Following a complaint, police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Authorities are examining her phone records and the suicide note.