Lucknow Boy Commits Suicide After Losing Rs 14 Lakh In Online Game

A 13-year-old Class 6 student in Lucknow's Mohanlalganj area took his own life on Monday after reportedly losing the entire Rs 14 lakh from his father's bank account in an online gaming app. The boy, gripped by fear following his father's discovery of the depletion, hanged himself in his room, highlighting the perilous risks of unchecked digital gaming among minors. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident, which underscores the growing menace of online gambling disguised as games in India.

Station House Officer D.K. Singh of Mohanlalganj police station detailed that the boy's father visited the bank on Monday and was shocked to find his account emptied. Upon returning home and lodging a complaint with the bank manager, he shared the distressing news with his family. Overwhelmed by panic, the boy excused himself to his rooftop room under the pretense of studying, where he tragically ended his life. The family discovered the act later that night when the boy's sister entered the room and raised an alarm. Despite rushed efforts to rush him to a nearby community health center, doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain further details.

The case has ignited concerns over the accessibility of online gaming platforms to children, many of which operate in legal gray areas and mimic legitimate games to lure young users into addictive betting. In India, where smartphone penetration among minors exceeds 70%, incidents of gaming-related financial losses and mental health crises have surged, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting over 10,000 cybercrime cases involving juveniles in 2024 alone. Authorities suspect the boy may have accessed the account via UPI or linked digital wallets, a common vulnerability exploited by unregulated apps.

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As the investigation unfolds, police are probing the specific gaming platform involved and coordinating with cyber cells to trace transactions. The family, devastated by the loss, has urged stricter parental controls and awareness campaigns. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder for regulators to enforce the 2023 IT Rules mandating age verification and spending limits on gaming sites, amid calls from child rights groups for nationwide bans on predatory apps targeting vulnerable youth.

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