Kataka: In a shocking incident, a Class IX student allegedly died by suicide in Jagatpur area of Odisha’s Kataka following a dispute after his mother took away his mobile phone.
The incident took place at Hatikhana village under the jurisdiction of Jagatpur police station in Kataka district.
The boy was a student at Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir in Purbakhachha. He was reportedly spending long hours on his mobile phone, neglecting his studies, which had been a matter of concern for his family.
Despite repeated warnings from his mother, the boy failed to reduce his mobile usage.
Sources said the family was busy performing the rituals for the first death anniversary of the boy’s father on Thursday. The minor had not gone to school for the occasion.
As the boy was engrossed in his mobile phone, his mother scolded him and hid the phone. She took away the phone in an attempt to discipline him. Upset over this, the minor allegedly consumed pesticide kept at home for protecting stored grains from insects.
Family members rushed him to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated. However, he was declared dead by doctors.
Following the incident, police have registered a case and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is underway.