Why Did a Boy in Odisha Take His Life Over Kanwar Yatra?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The tragic incident underscores the importance of communication in families.
- It raises awareness about the mental health struggles faced by youth.
- Parental decisions significantly impact children's emotional well-being.
- The role of technology and gaming addiction in youth lives is critical to address.
- Investigation into the matter is ongoing by local authorities.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 12 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking event, a 13-year-old boy tragically took his own life in the Singla area of Balasore district, Odisha, after his parents refused to allow him to participate in the Kanwar Yatra to a Shiva Temple in Puri, as reported by a police official on Tuesday.
The unfortunate occurrence unfolded at Guhalipada village within the Singla police jurisdiction on late Monday evening.
The young boy has been identified as Jayakrushna Jena, the son of Santosh Jena, and a student in class VIII. According to police, Jayakrushna's father, Santosh, is a farmer.
In a statement to IANS, a local police officer shared on Tuesday, “The 13-year-old victim had made plans with his friends to visit a temple in Puri to carry holy water for the Kanwar Yatra on Monday. However, when he sought permission from his family, his father denied him the opportunity to travel to Puri. Distressed by this refusal, he hanged himself using a towel from an iron rod inside his home’s bathroom on Monday evening. After a considerable time had passed without him emerging, family members forcibly entered the bathroom and discovered him hanging.”
He was promptly taken to a nearby hospital in Basta, Balasore district, where doctors pronounced him 'brought dead'. An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday, and the police have launched an investigation, filing a case regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, a relative of the deceased alleged that the boy had an addiction to mobile online games and spent extensive hours engaged in this activity. Family members had consistently expressed their disapproval of his gaming habits.
On the evening of his demise, he reportedly ended his life after being stopped from playing an online game by his mother.
However, the police have yet to verify the claims made by the relative concerning the boy's addiction to online gaming.