Sorry mom, sorry dad: Korean game app in focus as 3 Ghaziabad girls die by suicide
Three sisters died after they allegedly jumped off the ninth floor of their residential building in Ghaziabad. The victims were allegedly addicted to a task-based Korean online gaming app and left behind a suicide note that read, "Mummy, Papa, sorry."
“Mummy, Papa, sorry” — these were the final words left behind by three sisters who allegedly died by suicide after jumping from the ninth floor of their residential building in Ghaziabad late on Tuesday. Police sources said they were investigating the incident from various angles, including the victims' alleged addiction to a task-based Korean online gaming app.
The incident occurred at 2:15 am in the Bharat City area and the victims were identified as Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12), Superintendent of Police (SP) Atul Kumar Singh said.
Preliminary inquiries suggest the sisters had been spending significant time on mobile phones and were allegedly addicted to a Korean online task-based gaming app.
Residents reported hearing a loud noise and raised an alarm, after which police were informed. A team reached the spot, secured the area, and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.
During a search of the family’s flat, police recovered a one-page note addressed to the girls’ parents that said, “Mummy, Papa sorry.” Officers said the note has been taken into custody as part of the investigation.
Police are yet to confirm whether the suicide is linked to online gaming addiction and said the exact reason behind the deaths is still unclear.
"We received information that three girls jumped to their death from the ninth-floor balcony of their building. Police rushed to the spot and took the bodies into custody. The victims were rushed to a hospital in Loni where they were declared brought dead," SP Singh said.
Police are questioning the family members and examining the girls’ mobile phones and their digital activities. They also said that cyber experts may assist in analysing online interactions and app usage history.
WHAT THE VICTIMS' FATHER SAID
The victims' father, told India Today's sister channel, Aaj Tak, that their daughters used to play on the Korean online gaming app and that they had completed a last task on Monday.
"I have no idea what happened. They were playing the last task. There were 50 tasks in total. My 14-year-old daughter was the leader of the game, deciding the commands. My daughters played together and didn't let anyone suspect that were playing such a game," he said.
He suspected that the girls used a two-step ladder to jump off from the balcony as part of the game task.
"They did not let anyone suspect they were playing such a game. Their phones have been taken by the police for an investigation. Police are probing into who told them to start playing the game," he said.