When I was younger, I was absolutely hooked to the television. With so many different kinds of shows to watch, it was difficult not to extend my designated TV-time. Having grown up, I now realise why my dad used to call it an “idiot box”. Because TV shows have the ability to influence you in any way they can. From fashion to lingo, to even behavioural patterns, TV shows can either teach you something useful or things that are terribly harmful. More often than not, it is the latter.
Having said that, a woman from Nagpur paid Rs. 50,000 to a man to kidnap her 12-year-old nephew after being inspired by a crime TV show, reports News18.
The 36-year-old woman, Sarika, hired the 27-year-old man, named Yerne, for the entire enterprise. The two kidnapped the boy from outside his school. They took the boy to Shegaon in Buldhana district. The man stayed with the boy while his aunt returned home to Butibori.
After the boy’s parents lodged a police complaint, the police monitored the movements of the man and found him suspicious, reports NDTV.
“Through Yerne, we zeroed in on Sarika who confessed after being interrogated. She was made to call Yerne asking him to release the boy. Yerne left the boy in Wardha, from where the minor boarded a bus to Butibori. He was reunited with his parents. Yerne managed to escape,” said the police.
The police went on to mention that their plan was inspired by a “crime show on television”.
My dad was right when he called the television an “idiot box”!