A tragic incident occurred in Hubballi on Friday, where a 14-year-old boy allegedly died by suicide after his parents refused to give him a smartphone. The deceased has been identified as Samarth Phadke, a resident of Uday Nagar in Hubballi. According to family members, Samarth was fondly called DJ and used to play built-in games on a smartphone.
Incident Details
Family members reported that Samarth had erased all data from his mother's smartphone. When his parents advised him to stay away from the mobile phone and focus on his studies, he went to his room and ended his life. At that time, his parents were visiting Harsha Complex in the city to get the smartphone repaired. Samarth had recently completed Class 8 and joined Class 9.
Police Response
Police Commissioner N Shashikumar visited the spot and assessed the situation. Speaking to the media, he advised parents to be cautious about mobile addiction among their children. He emphasized that when parents notice their child is addicted to mobile phone usage, they should not snatch the smartphone away. Instead, they should counsel the child through experts or teachers. He also suggested guiding children to use smartphones for constructive purposes, such as learning Mathematics or grammar.
Helpline Information
If you are having suicidal thoughts or need emotional support, please contact suicide-prevention helplines: Arogya Vani at 104, or Sahay Helpline at 080-25497777. Stay updated with real-time results and insights on the UBSE UK Board Results 2026 and CBSE 12th Result 2026.
