Students and tutors in Hyderabad turn to crime to clear online gaming debt: What happened?
In a shocking development, three individuals in Hyderabad are behind bars after getting entangled in the world of online gaming. Despite their promising academic backgrounds, two engineering students and their tutor turned to crime to clear the debts accumulated due to their gaming addiction. Their arrest raises serious questions about the impact of digital games on behavior and mental health.
How did it start?
According to a report by The Times of India, the accused, identified as Bonta Anil, a master’s graduate in Mathematics from Nalgonda, along with two engineering students, were involved in separate chain snatching incidents that occurred on September and October. Police investigations showed that these young men, despite having promising futures, were trapped in a vicious cycle of online gaming addiction, causing them to commit crimes to pay off their daily debts. the more it piles up.
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DCP Maheshwaram, Sunitha Reddy, explained that the three had borrowed a large amount of money from family and friends to fund their gaming habit. Unable to repay their debts, they resorted to criminal activities, with Anil committing two chain-snatching crimes in Pahadishareef and Ibrahimpatnam to solve their financial crisis.
Anil’s case highlights the dangerous path many individuals can take due to addiction. Initially, his parents intervened, moved him to Hyderabad and provided him with financial support, including buying a bicycle. However, unable to escape the lure of online gaming, Anil borrowed more money to finance his habit, eventually leading to criminal behavior.
The rise of Internet gaming disorder (IGD)
This situation is not an isolated incident but a growing concern as the effects of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) become more apparent. Recognized by the World Health Organization, IGD is a behavioral addiction that causes individuals to prioritize gaming over other aspects of life, often leading to negative consequences. According to psychologist Dr. Rituparna Ghosh, IGD traps individuals in a vicious cycle of dependence, leading to serious mental health problems and impulsive behavior.
Symptoms of IGD include a constant preoccupation with gaming, discomfort when unable to play, and an increasing need to play games for longer periods of time to achieve the same satisfaction. In extreme cases, individuals may neglect academic responsibilities, relationships, and physical health, all in pursuit of a fleeting sense of escape.
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This case serves as a warning that online gaming addiction can have far-reaching consequences, not only affecting an individual’s mental health but also leading to criminal behavior. The arrest of these young men highlights the need for increased awareness and intervention to prevent further harm caused by this growing problem.
