Boy Ends Life After Phone Taken Away; Dharwad Police Flag Concern

DHARWAD: A minor boy died allegedly by suicide after being denied access to a mobile phone in Hubballi on Thursday night, police said. According to Hubballi-Dharwad city police commissioner N. Shashi Kumar, the boy, aged around 13–14 years, had been addicted to mobile use during holidays. After his mother snatched the mobile from him, he reportedly locked himself inside a room. When he did not respond for about 10 minutes, his family grew suspicious. “The father peeped through the window and found the boy’s body. They broke open the door and rushed him to the hospital, but he was declared brought dead,” the Commissioner said. The incident occurred on Thursday around 10 pm. Calling the incident unfortunate, the commissioner said increasing mobile addiction among children was becoming a serious concern, and both parents and children need to be cautious. “Such addiction does not develop overnight. In many cases, parents themselves hand over mobile phones to children — sometimes while feeding them or as a reward for studying. Later, when the device is suddenly taken away, children may react drastically,” he said. He advised parents to address mobile addiction gradually and sensitively. “If a child is addicted, parents should consult teachers or doctors and reduce usage step by step,” he said. The commissioner also urged children to use mobile phones productively. “Instead of games, they can use it to improve skills, learn grammar, or take up online courses, especially during holidays,” he said. Citing recent SSLC results, he noted that several students, including those from rural areas, had achieved top scores by avoiding distractions. “We have seen students score 625 marks by staying away from distractions like mobile phones,” he added.



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