Youth hooked to online gaming runs into to huge debts, commits suicide in Belur lodge

HASSAN: A 25-year-old youth, who had run into huge debts due to online gaming, committed suicide at a lodge in Belur town on Saturday after leaving behind a death note. The deceased is Rakesh Gowda, an employee of Spandana Spoorthi Finance at Thirthahalli and the only son of Umesh of Cheekanahalli in Belur taluk.

Rakesh, who was also the town unit president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, in his death note, wrote that he had amassed huge debts over the last two years due to online gaming. He noted that he was unable to repay the loans and had decided to end his life. He also noted that he was responsible for his death.

Belur MLA H K Suresh met the youth’s mother and consoled the family.

While seeking his mother’s forgiveness, Rakesh stated that he had misappropriated Rs 1 lakh from the finance company where he was working and that the money should not be recovered from his parents. He also requested that the information regarding his death should not be broken straightaway to his parents and that his eyes should be donate.

Rakesh also wrote that online gaming had claimed his life and that his last rites should be conducted in Belur itself and not at his native village Cheekanahalli. As per his wish in his death note, Belur MLA H K Suresh visited the hospital mortuary and consoled the family members.