A 14-year-old boy died by suicide in Hubballi's Udaynagar locality on Thursday night, April 24, 2025, after his mother took away his mobile phone to curb excessive gaming addiction, police confirmed on Friday. The tragic incident has prompted Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashidhar to issue a public advisory warning parents against abruptly withdrawing mobile phones from children who are severely addicted to them.

What Happened That Night in Udaynagar

According to police, the boy had been spending several days engrossed in an online game, raising serious concern among his family. On Thursday night, his mother confronted him over his excessive screen time, scolded him, and asked him to focus on studies instead. She then physically took the mobile phone away from him.

Deeply distressed, the boy retreated to his room and locked the door from the inside. When he did not emerge for approximately 20 minutes, his father looked through the window and discovered him hanging from the ceiling using his mother's saree. The parents immediately broke open the door and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.

Police Commissioner's Warning to Parents

Police Commissioner N. Shashidhar addressed the media and offered a detailed account of the tragedy. He confirmed that the boy's mother had objected to his phone addiction and confiscated the device, after which the boy locked himself inside the room for 10 to 15 minutes before being found.

"It is an unfortunate incident. Children taking extreme steps over the denial of mobile phone use is a matter of concern. At the same time, parents also have responsibilities," the Commissioner said. He pointed out that children do not develop phone addiction overnight — it is often enabled gradually by parents and relatives who hand over devices to keep children quiet, or allow screen time during meals and study hours.

"Many times, while feeding children or asking them to study, parents allow mobile phone use for an hour or so. Without understanding the consequences, parents may suddenly snatch away the phones. In cases of severe addiction, consultation with psychologists and doctors is advisable, and mobile usage should be reduced gradually, not abruptly," he added.

The Broader Crisis of Mobile Addiction Among Children

This incident is not an isolated one. Across India, child psychologists and school counsellors have been raising alarms about the rapid rise of smartphone addiction and online gaming dependency among children between the ages of 10 and 16. The problem intensified significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, when extended school closures normalised prolonged screen exposure for millions of children.

According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), digital addiction cases among adolescents in India have seen a sharp increase in recent years, with Karnataka among the states reporting higher numbers of child mental health referrals linked to screen dependency. This comes amid growing calls from educators and child welfare groups for a national policy framework on children's digital health.

The Commissioner also drew attention to the productive potential of technology, noting: "Many students who scored 625 out of 625 in Class 10 board exams have said they stayed away from distractions, including mobile phones. Mobile phones can be used productively to learn English, grammar, and other skills through YouTube and online courses."

Keshvapura Police Register Case, Investigation Underway

The Keshvapura Police Station in Hubballi has registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy's death. While the case is being treated as a suicide, police are gathering statements from family members and neighbours as part of standard procedure.

The family is currently under significant emotional distress. Counselling support is expected to be extended to the parents, who are also grappling with guilt over the sequence of events that led to their son's death.

Expert Advice: How Parents Should Handle Phone Addiction

Child mental health experts consistently advise that sudden withdrawal of digital devices from children who are severely addicted can trigger extreme emotional responses, including aggression, depression, and in rare but tragic cases, self-harm. The recommended approach involves gradual reduction of screen time, open communication, and professional psychological support when addiction is severe.

Parents are urged to monitor their children's digital behaviour proactively, set structured screen time limits early, and engage children in offline activities and social interactions. Schools and community organisations also have a critical role to play in building awareness around responsible technology use among adolescents.

As this case reignites the national conversation on child digital addiction and parental responsibility, authorities in Karnataka are expected to consider broader awareness campaigns targeting schools and parent-teacher associations across the state in the coming weeks.

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