Love, Ego & Instagram: Online Messages End in Brutal Murder

A 21-year-old man was brutally hacked to death in Chikkamagaluru district after allegedly sending repeated Instagram messages to his former girlfriend, whose marriage had been fixed with another man. The victim, Manjunath, was stabbed near a flyover in Tarikere taluk and later died in hospital.

Police said the woman had ended the relationship and got engaged to Venu, but Manjunath allegedly continued messaging her on social media despite warnings. Tensions escalated after he posted a birthday message and video on Instagram, angering the woman’s family. Her brother Kiran allegedly called Manjunath to the spot, where an argument broke out, leading to the fatal attack.

The Tarikere police have arrested the woman’s brother Kiran, her fiancé Venu, and two others in connection with the murder. The case has once again highlighted how social media disputes and unresolved personal conflicts are increasingly turning violent.