Kakinada: A couple – Kolli Durga Prasad (32) and Ramya Lakshmi (24) – ended their lives, making orphans their two kids, Naga Sai (4) and Likhitha (2)
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced ₹10 lakh as financial assistance for the two kids to meet their future needs.
According to Dowleswaram police, Durga Prasad had been a painter and Ramya Lakshmi a tailor. Both hailed from Rajavommangi of Alluri Seetharama Raju district and had been pursuing their professions in Rajamahendravaram.
They got attracted by loan app advertisements on social media and Durga Prasad took loans for developing their business. Though they paid some instalments, they started defaulting. Recovery agents first started harassing and then threatened them. They even sent a morphed nude photo of Ramya to her husband. Recovery agents went on to threaten Durga Prasad that they will publish the photo on social media, unless the loan is cleared. They also went on to publicise the loan default among the couples’ friends and relatives.
Unable to bear the torture, humiliation and insult, they both committed suicide by consuming pesticides.
Dowleswaram police have registered a case.
Meanwhile, as per instructions of the CM, State Women Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma, along with East Godavari district collector K. Madhavi Latha and Rajamahendravaram MP M. Bharat visited the children and handed over cheques of the ex-gratia amount to their grandparents.
Padma instructed officials of the women and child welfare department to take care of the children.
South Zone DSP Srilalitha said children of the couple are currently staying with their grandparents in Rajamahendravaram.
Meanwhile, East Godavari district additional superintendent of police M. Rajani asked people not to take loans from app or other financial institutions, which take no permission from authorities concerned. She said that if anybody is harassing those who have taken loans, the latter can call help number 1930, Dial 100 or report the matter on National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal www.cybercrime.gov.in.
