13-year-old Begusarai boy dies by suicide over mobile game addiction:Mother refused his request to play; grandfather says granddaughter also died last year

A 13-year-old boy named Ravi died by suicide in Pahari Gachhi village after becoming addicted to mobile games. He hanged himself on Friday morning, leaving his family and the entire village in deep shock. His grandfather, Shankar Das, performed the last rites. The family says the boy had become isolated, especially after his sister also died by suicide a year ago. Family devastated after second tragedy Ravi was the son of Chandan Das, who works as a labourer in Salem, Kerala. Two years ago, Chandan left his son Ravi and daughter Radha with their grandparents so they could look after the elderly couple. But tragedy struck when Radha died by suicide last year. Since then, Ravi had been living alone with his grandparents. Shankar Das said he had hoped Ravi would support him in old age, but he ended up carrying his grandson’s body to the cremation ground. Repeated attempts to send him to school failed The family tried to admit Ravi to school twice. Shankar Das said the boy refused to study. When they admitted him again after he grew older, he ran away from school and returned home. He spent most of his time alone. Deep mobile addiction after sister’s death Ravi became addicted to mobile games. His grandfather said he played games day and night and did not listen to anyone. They assumed he would change with time, but his dependence on the phone increased. His father had bought the mobile phone and paid for recharges regularly. For several days, the phone was not working properly. On Thursday night, Ravi asked his mother for money to repair it. She scolded him, and he refused to eat dinner. The next morning, he took his own life. Village in shock Villagers said Ravi was always seen playing games on his mobile. A neighbour, Virendra Kumar, said the boy became angry when his mother refused to repair the phone. He also confirmed that Ravi’s elder sister had died by suicide a year earlier. A large crowd gathered outside the family’s house after the incident. The grandparents have not cooked food for two days due to grief. Shankar Das said they now plan to sell their cow and move to Kerala to live with their son. Psychiatrist explains link between gaming and suicidal behaviour Psychiatrist Dr Vishwamitra Thakur said the situation is alarming as many children are becoming addicted to online games. He said continuous gaming releases dopamine, a chemical that gives temporary pleasure and creates dependency. When children cannot play, they feel restless, irritated and stressed. He explained that gaming addiction makes children emotionally distant from family and friends. They often use games to escape loneliness or personal problems. When they stop playing, their real-life issues appear larger and more stressful, which increases the risk of depression. Dr Thakur added that violent games can increase aggressive behaviour. Children may react strongly even to small issues and may resort to self-harm. He said suicide usually occurs due to multiple pressures, with gaming addiction acting as a major trigger. ​