Andhra man ends life after loan app agents circulate morphed photos of his wife
Visakhapatnam: A 25-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh, Narendra, took his own life after facing harassment by agents of a loan app. The agents allegedly circulated morphed photos of his wife, Akhila, along with a price quote, to his contacts after he failed to repay a ₹2,000 loan.
Narendra, a fisherman who had an intercaste love marriage with Akhila on October 28, was unable to go fishing for several days due to weather conditions, which led to financial difficulties. To cover his expenses, he borrowed ₹2,000 through a loan app.
The situation escalated when the agents began harassing him for repayment, sending abusive messages and distributing doctored images of his wife to his friends and family. When Akhila received the morphed photos, she confronted Narendra, who revealed the loan. Despite repaying the full amount, the harassment did not stop.
The relentless humiliation drove Narendra to take his life on Tuesday, just over six weeks after his wedding.
This is the third such incident reported in Andhra Pradesh this week. In Nandyal district, a young woman facing similar harassment attempted suicide but was rescued by the police.
Loan apps, known for offering quick loans with minimal documentation, have come under scrutiny for their extreme and illegal recovery methods. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anitha recently raised the issue in the state assembly, pledging strict action against such practices. She stated, "These apps trap borrowers with easy loans but resort to harsh and illegal means of recovery, pushing people to the brink of suicide."
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China confirms its support to Pakistan during four-day conflict with India
Beijing (PTI): China, for the first time, has confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India last year, official media reports here said.
China's state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China's (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle design.
Zhang had provided technical support to Pakistan during the four-day war last May, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting CCTV.
Pakistan's air force operates a fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, produced by an AVIC subsidiary.
"At the support base, we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens. By late morning, in May, the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). It was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically,” Zhang said.
What drove his team was the "desire to do an even better job with on site support” and to ensure their equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential”, Zhang told CCTV.
“That wasn’t just a recognition of the J10CE; it was also a testament to the deep bond we formed through working side by side, day in and day out,” he said.
