Couple Dies by Suicide Due to Digital Arrest Issues, Leaves Behind Shocking Notes

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A tragic incident occurred in Belagavi, Karnataka, where an elderly couple, both over 80 died by suicide after being harassed by cybercriminals. The retired government employee, Diego Santan Nazareth (83) and his wife, Flaviana (80) had been tormented for three months. A suicide note revealed that they were scammed out of ₹500,000 and threatened with "digital arrest." The perpetrators, identified as Sumit Bira and Anil Yadav, posed as Delhi telecom officials, used the couple's SIM cards for illegal activities, and continued to demand more money.

Diego's note also mentioned debts and gold borrowed from people in Goa and Mumbai, intending to settle them by selling their property. He requested that their bodies be donated to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences for research. Police confirmed that both died from consuming poison; Diego also attempted to slit his throat and then jumped into a water tank. This is reportedly the first death linked to such cyber fraud in the area.