Class 11 Student in Siliguri Dies After Falling Victim to Online Gaming Fraud

KalimNews, Siliguri,  April 18, 2025 : A tragic incident has shaken the Ghogomali area of Siliguri, where an 18-year-old student of Class 11 was found dead at his residence on the evening of April 17. The boy, identified as Avik Paul, also known as Sujoy, was a student of Ghogomali High School and a resident of Ward 37. Authorities suspect that he died by suicide after suffering a substantial financial loss due to online gaming-related fraud.

According to police reports, Sujoy had recently developed a strong addiction to online gaming platforms. It is alleged that during this period, he unknowingly became a victim of financial fraud linked to these platforms. Nearly ₹2.5 lakh is reported to have been siphoned off from his father’s bank account as a result of this fraudulent activity. The financial burden and emotional distress believed to have stemmed from this loss may have led the boy to take the extreme step.

Sujoy had been observing a religious fast for Charak Puja over the past week and had asked his mother to prepare fish for the meal he intended to have upon breaking his fast. When his mother returned home from the market, she found his room locked. Looking through the window, she saw her son unresponsive and hanging inside the room. He was immediately rushed to the Siliguri District Hospital, where he was declared dead.

The Ashighar Police Outpost was promptly notified, and preliminary investigations point toward suicide resulting from online fraud and gaming addiction. Authorities are continuing their inquiry into the digital trail and financial transactions associated with the case.

This incident underscores the growing concern about the risks posed by unregulated online gaming platforms and highlights the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures to protect vulnerable youth from such digital exploitation.