Addicted to online gaming, youth kills self over debts in Bhubaneswar

Online game addiction and pressure to clear off money borrowed for playing games allegedly led a 22-year-old youth to take his life at his home in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Shasanka Sekhar Satpathy from Tinimundia Square under Lingaraj Police Station in the Capital City.

As per reports, Shasanka was addicted to playing online games. He was playing online games at his home for hours. However, according to his family members, he remained aloof for some days. He committed suicide by hanging himself to death.

Though his family members rushed him to the Capital Hospital in critical condition, he was declared brought-dead by the doctors.

Upon being informed, Lingaraj Police reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident. Police are looking into various aspects which might have forced Shasanka to commit suicide.

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Prima facie, it appears that he died by suicide after losing money in online games, police said adding that an investigation has been initiated in this connection.

Online gaming has become extremely popular in recent years, attracting a large number of users. However, this rapid growth has raised concerns about the potential negative effects of certain types of online games.

According to experts, unless parents talk to their children, they will not be able to know about what they are up to. If found that they are engaging in such scams, they must be counselled properly at the earliest.