Student held captive and assaulted over online gaming debt in Kanpur

KANPUR: A student preparing for competitive exams in Kanpur was allegedly held captive and assaulted by a group of youths after he failed to repay losses from an online game. The attackers also demanded ransom from the student’s family and threatened to harm them.

According to the police, the main accused tricked the 18-year-old student into playing the Aviator online game with his associates, promising he could recover money owed to him. When the student lost money during the game and couldn't repay, the group detained him, beat him, and forced him to call his family for money. They also recorded the assault.

The student, a resident of Kadaura in Jalaun district, had been staying in Kakadeo to prepare for entrance exams. He had earlier lent Rs 5,000 to a man living near Gopala Tower. When he asked for the money back on 5 April, the man suggested they recover it through online gambling. The student ended up losing Rs 24,000 and later received Rs 12,500 and Rs 22,000 from the group to continue playing, which also resulted in losses.

He was then assaulted and warned that his family would be harmed if the money wasn't paid. The student returned home in fear but came back on 15 April. The next day, on his way to an exam, he was again attacked and locked in a room, where he was filmed being beaten.

His family was contacted using his phone and told to bring money. They went to the location but couldn’t find him or the accused. They reported the incident to Babupurwa police. Officers later traced the accused’s phone to Omnagar, Kakadeo. When the suspects realised the police were closing in, they fled, leaving the student behind. He was rescued soon after.

Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar of Kakadeo confirmed a complaint had been received. Further investigation will be carried out by the officer-in-charge of Pandunagar outpost.