A tragic incident was reported in Karnataka’s Nelamangala taluk in which a 28-year-old woman was believed to have died by suicide after losing so much to online gaming and becoming stuck in heavy debt. The incident has shocked residents of the area and once again raised concerns about the growing impact of online gaming-related financial distress on individuals and families.
The deceased has been identified as Ranjitha (28), who worked in Nelamangala at a private company. According to initial information, she lived with her husband and her young son for the last few years in a rented house in Bommanahalli village in Nelamangala.
Police sources said Ranjitha was originally from Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) and married Arun around ten years ago. The couple had moved to Nelamangala around five years ago and had been residing there with their seven-year-old son.
Ranjitha became heavily involved in online gaming about a year ago, investigators said. During this time, she lost a lot of money in gaming. She had debts amounting to several lakhs of rupees, family members said.
Ranjitha’s husband and mother had previously taken on more than ₹15 lakh in debts. Despite having financial support from her family, she was allegedly unable to completely stray from online gaming and has been taking on more loans in the last few months.
Police said Ranjitha’s husband had travelled to Kalaburagi for work-related reasons two days earlier. During his absence, she was at home with their seven-year-old child. The woman was found unresponsive at home, said the police.
Nelamangala Rural Police Station officials rushed to the spot and did an initial inspection. The body was later shifted for post-mortem examination, and a case has been registered. The police are investigating the specific reasons which led to the incident and are trying to get the statements of family members and other people involved as well.
The case has brought attention to the wider issue of online gaming-related financial losses, which are becoming a growing concern in India. It has been said that excessive involvement in online gaming, particularly on the monetary aspect of it, can cause financial stress, relationships to break down, and mental health problems for some people.
As mental health professionals say, financial problems, emotional distress, compulsive gaming and so on need the help of family members, counsellors, and mental health professionals at the earliest stage. Early intervention can help to address problems before they get out of hand.
Residents expressed shock over the incident; Ranjitha looked like a working woman who was leading a normal family life, they said. The tragedy has left the family devastated, including the young child, neighbours said.
More investigation is going on, police said yesterday, and all aspects of the case are being investigated. Details will be made public as the inquiry unfolds.
