LUCKNOW: A 28-year-old Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constable allegedly died by suicide after hanging himself from a ceiling fan inside his barracks at the 10th Battalion PAC campus in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district on Sunday morning. Preliminary investigations indicate that the constable had been struggling with depression and was reportedly burdened by heavy debts allegedly incurred through online gaming.The deceased has been identified as Deepak Kumar, a native of Meerut and a constable of the 2021 batch posted with the 10th Battalion PAC. He was married and is survived by his wife and a two-year-old daughter.According to police, the incident occurred at around 6 a.m. when Deepak was scheduled to be on duty at the Mahadeva Temple along with other personnel. While the rest of his team left for deployment, Deepak remained inside the barracks.Investigators said the constable allegedly tore his T-shirt, fashioned it into a makeshift noose and hanged himself from the ceiling fan inside his room.The incident came to light when fellow PAC personnel returned to the barracks and found him hanging. They immediately informed senior officers, following which 10th Battalion PAC Commandant Rakesh Kumar Singh and local police rushed to the spot.The body was taken down and sent for a post-mortem examination. Police have initiated an inquest and are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.Preliminary inquiries suggest that Deepak had been under considerable mental stress in recent months.His elder brother, Ajay Singh, who is posted as a sub-inspector in Noida, said Deepak had graduated before joining the police force and had been battling depression for some time.“He had developed an addiction to online gaming and had accumulated substantial debts after repeatedly losing money. He was under severe financial and mental stress,” his brother said.According to the family, Deepak was the youngest among five siblings. Another brother, Gautam Singh, serves as a Junior Engineer in the Agriculture Department.Police officials said they are examining the constable’s mobile phone, financial transactions and other digital evidence to ascertain the extent of his online gaming activity and any associated debts.While investigators said the online gaming debt angle has emerged during the preliminary inquiry, they emphasised that the exact circumstances leading to the death will be established only after the investigation is completed.Officials added that Deepak appeared disturbed on Sunday morning before the incident, though no suicide note has been recovered so far.SP, Barabanki, Arpit Vijayvargiya, said that the phone is being scanned by forensic experts to know what sort of online games Deepak was hooked to and how much he had lost in online gaming. How online gaming addiction can spiral into debt, depression and suicide riskOnline gaming has become one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment, but mental health experts warn that excessive gaming—particularly games involving financial transactions, in-app purchases or betting-like reward systems—can trigger a cycle of addiction, debt, depression and, in extreme cases, suicidal behaviour. Dopamine reward cycleOnline games are designed to stimulate the brain’s reward system. Every victory, level-up or reward releases dopamine, creating a feeling of excitement and achievement. Over time, players crave that feeling and spend increasing amounts of time gaming. Financial losses and debtMany games encourage players to purchase virtual items or continue playing through paid upgrades. In games involving real-money stakes or betting-like mechanisms, repeated losses can lead to mounting debts as players attempt to recover their losses.Social isolationAs gaming consumes more time, players often withdraw from family, friends and social activities. Personal relationships, work and studies begin to suffer, leaving individuals increasingly isolated.Emotional distressPersistent losses, financial pressure and deteriorating relationships can trigger anxiety, guilt, irritability and feelings of hopelessness. Many individuals become trapped in a cycle of chasing losses while hiding their financial problems from family members.DepressionWhen debts become unmanageable and emotional stress intensifies, many individuals develop symptoms of clinical depression, including persistent sadness, loss of motivation, sleep disturbances and feelings of worthlessness.Increased suicide riskMental health professionals caution that untreated depression, combined with overwhelming debt, shame and a sense of having no way out, can significantly increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviour. While online gaming addiction alone does not directly cause suicide, it can become a major contributing factor when accompanied by financial distress, psychological illness and lack of timely intervention.Warning Signs
- Excessive time spent gaming.
- Borrowing money or accumulating unexplained debts.
- Neglecting work, studies or family responsibilities.
- Mood swings, irritability or social withdrawal.
- Sleep disturbances and declining mental health.
- Talking about hopelessness, being a burden or having no future.
