Ghaziabad Sisters' Suicide Probe Uncovers Academic Struggles and Digital Obsession
A police investigation into the tragic suicide of three minor half-sisters in Ghaziabad's Bharat City on February 4 has revealed that the girls faced significant academic challenges but had not officially failed in school. The probe highlights a complex interplay of educational disengagement and deep immersion in online gaming and Korean pop culture.
School Records Show Promotion Despite Academic Weakness
Investigators visited a school in the Shalimar Garden area where the sisters were enrolled until 2020. Records indicate the eldest sister joined Class 3 on April 1, 2019, while the youngest was in kindergarten during the same academic session. The third sister had been admitted earlier in 2018 to Class 1.
Under the Right to Education Act's no-detention policy, all three girls were promoted to higher classes. However, school staff described them as "very poor" in studies, consistently failing to complete assignments. A senior police officer confirmed they eventually dropped out due to disinterest in schooling, though they never obtained formal transfer certificates.
Deep Dive into Digital Addiction and Korean Fascination
The sisters—aged 16, 14, and 12—were found deceased after allegedly jumping from their ninth-floor apartment. Forensic analysis of a phone previously used by the girls, which their father had sold for Rs 15,000 about two weeks before the incident, uncovered alarming digital habits.
The device revealed nearly 20 hours of daily usage dedicated to Korean content, cartoons, and gaming. Data showed particular obsession with K-pop and horror puzzle-survival games like Poppy Playtime, The Baby in Yellow, Ice Cream Man, Evil Nun, and Ice Game. A suicide note recovered from their diary specifically referenced these games.
Tutor Recalls Disturbing Behavior and False Identities
A private tutor who briefly taught the girls reported they introduced themselves using Korean names—Maria, Aliza, and Cindy—claiming they were adopted from Korea and China. "They were very weak in studies. When I gave them basic calculations like addition and multiplication, they failed to even recognise numbers," the tutor stated.
After questioning their father about the adoption claims, the tutor learned of their obsession and discontinued lessons after only a few sessions. Police noted that none of the sisters' former classmates remain at the school, having progressed to higher education, and most staff from their time were replaced in 2023, leaving few firsthand accounts of their school behavior.
Father's Background and Investigation Context
The girls' father, Chetan Kumar, initially told police they stopped attending school after failing an exam, contradicting the no-detention policy findings. Police sources additionally revealed Kumar was arrested in 2019 for celebratory firing during a wedding in Delhi's Shastri Park area, though he was later released on bail.
This tragic case underscores critical issues surrounding student mental health, academic pressure despite promotional policies, and the potentially dangerous allure of immersive digital content for vulnerable youth.
