THREE SISTERS FROM GHAZIABAD, INDIA DIE AFTER PARENT’S RESTRICT THEIR PHONE USE
By Sikhumbuzo Sihlongonyane
GHAZIABAD, INDIA: Three minor sisters died in Ghaziabad in the early hours of Wednesday after jumping from the balcony of their ninth-floor apartment, following a dispute with their parents over mobile phone usage, police said.
The girls, Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12) were found on the pavement near a community park inside their complex shortly after 2 a.m.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patil said a note was recovered from a locked room near the balcony, expressing distress and loneliness. The note also apologised to their father and referred to an 8-page suicide note that reportedly described their experiences, the sisters included statements such as, “Korea was our entire life. How dare you take this away from us” and “We really, really love Korea.”
Investigations revealed that the sisters had stopped attending school in 2020 during pandemic and spent much of their time consuming online content, including television shows, social media, cartoons such as Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, as well as Korean dramas and music. To stop what they believed was excessive screen addiction, the parents had recently taken away access to the family’s mobile phone.
“The children did not own phones and used one of their parents’ devices to go online. A few days ago, the phone was confiscated after repeated concerns about their habits,” said Patil, adding that the parents had also warned them about possible strict measures if their behaviour continued.
Police said preliminary findings do not indicate the influence of any online challenge or game, though all possibilities are still being examined