A 17-year-old boy, Himanshu Chimney, was murdered in Maharashtra's Wardha district over a dispute related to an Instagram story, police said on Monday. The shocking incident happened on Saturday in Pimpalgaon village, located in the Hinganghat area.

The police said that about a month ago, Himanshu posted a story on Instagram, asking people to vote between him and Manav Jumnake. Himanshu got more votes than Manav, which led to a disagreement between them. What started as a small issue on social media soon became a serious conflict.

Attack over social media rivalry

On Saturday, Himanshu and Manav met to talk about their disagreement, but they soon started arguing. According to the police, Manav and his friend attacked Himanshu with a knife. Himanshu was badly injured and later died.

The police have arrested Manav and are still investigating the case. They are trying to understand how a small issue on Instagramturned into such a serious and violent crime.

Rise in social media-related crimes

This is not the first time a social media dispute has led to a violent crime. In July 2024, a 15-year-old boy in Gurugram allegedly murdered a 16-year-old after an argument over chatting with a girl on Instagram. The victim was brutally stabbed multiple times but managed to run 250 metres before collapsing and dying in front of a house.

Authorities are worried about the growing number of crimes caused by social media fights. They are asking young people to solve problems calmly instead of using violence. Social media is meant for sharing ideas, learning, and staying connected, but some youngsters are misusing it for arguments, crime, and conflicts. Instead of benefiting from it, they are turning it into a serious problem that leads to tragic incidents like fights and even murders.

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