Mawkyrwat, June 25: The South West Khasi Hills Police have arrested a 22-year-old man from Gujarat in connection with a cyber blackmail case linked to the alleged suicide of a woman from Mawkyrwat village earlier this year.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Police, South West Khasi Hills, the case was registered following a written FIR lodged by the victim’s sister, Balapynhun Nongrum. The complaint alleged that the deceased died by suicide by hanging on April 19, 2026, at around 6:40 p.m. after facing continuous blackmail, threats and intimidation from a man who allegedly threatened to circulate her private photographs and videos through WhatsApp and Instagram.
Based on the complaint, Mawkyrwat Women Police Station registered Case No. 04/2026 under Sections 77, 79, 351(3) and 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Sections 66E and 67A of the Information Technology Act, and launched an investigation.
During the investigation, police traced the accused to Surat district in Gujarat. He was arrested on June 23 at around 2:30 p.m. by a team from the South West Khasi Hills Police with assistance from Palsana Police Station in Surat district.
The accused has been identified as Sachin Nishad (22), son of Yogendra Nishad, a resident of Bhidoor, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. He is being produced before the competent court within the period of transit remand granted by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Surat.
The police have appealed to the public, particularly young people and victims of cyber harassment, blackmail, sextortion and online intimidation, not to suffer in silence or take extreme steps. They urged victims to report such incidents promptly so that timely intervention, counselling and legal assistance can be provided.
The district police also advised people facing similar situations to seek immediate help through emergency services, the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, the Women Helpline (181), and other mental health and police support services.
