Online Gaming Addiction Fuels Dangerous Debt Cycle Among Hubballi Teens
By B Kishan Singh, Hubli EXPRESS News:
A recent incident in Hubballi has brought to light a disturbing network of illegal money lenders operating in the twin cities, specifically targeting minors. The case involves a ninth-grade student who borrowed money from a classmate in the tenth grade, who had obtained the funds from a private money lender. The situation escalated when the borrower stabbed his junior over a dispute regarding the repayment of the borrowed money. The injured student’s parents reported the incident to the Bendigeri police, leading to the arrest of the money lender and the apprehension of four juveniles involved in the illegal network. These minors were later produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.
As of now, the Bendigeri police have not identified any other minors who were similarly harassed by these illegal lenders, but investigations are ongoing. The ninth-grade boy had borrowed ₹10,000 to celebrate his birthday, agreeing to pay interest on the full amount each week. However, tensions arose between the two students over the repayment of the principal amount, culminating in violence.
This incident is just one example of a larger issue. Many high school students are resorting to stealing money from their homes to fund their desires or to pay off mounting interest when they get trapped in the cycle of borrowing. In many cases, parents do not report missing money from their purses or pockets, unaware that their children are behind the thefts, said police.
Recently, some college students in the twin cities tested positive for Ganja consumption, raising concerns about where they are getting the money to buy drugs. According to the police, students, especially teenagers, often turn to illegal money lenders to satisfy their desires. They might steal money from their parents’ pockets or unknowingly transfer funds from their parents’ UPI apps. In some cases, they do this under false pretenses. Many parents have lost significant amounts of money or jewelry, with peer pressure, drug habits, and online gaming—especially paid games like online rummy—being the main culprits.
Dr. Shivanand Hiremath, a neuropsychiatrist at Aantharya Neuro Clinic in Hubballi, has seen many students who have become addicted to online gambling, losing their parents’ hard-earned money in the process. Often, children have easy access to their parents’ smartphones, learn their passwords, and secretly transfer money to fulfill their needs.
In the Bendigeri police station case, where the ninth-grade student resorted to violence over unpaid debt, Dr. Hiremath suggests that peer pressure to throw an extravagant birthday party may have driven the boy to borrow money without understanding the consequences. Today, hosting grand birthday celebrations and parties has become almost mandatory, largely due to peer pressure.
Dr. Hiremath also noted the growing problem of students becoming addicted to online games. He recently treated a few students who sought counseling for gaming addiction. In one case, a boy lost ₹8 lakh in online gaming and attempted suicide, but was fortunately saved by his neighbors. With appropriate counseling and treatment, he was able to recover.
Dr. Hiremath emphasized that parents should limit their children’s access to smartphones for as long as possible. He suggested that parents consider giving their children basic keypad phones instead, as these devices lack internet access and reduce the risk of smartphone addiction. Additionally, basic phones do not allow children to access their parents’ internet banking or UPI accounts.
He says, if possible, parents should also start using the basic keypad phones, it would reduce the double risk. He concluded that with proper counseling and medical treatment, addictions to online gaming or smartphones can be successfully addressed. Parents need to be vigilant and proactive in preventing these issues from taking root in their children’s lives.
