Rejected cell phones, two underage boys “end their lives”

Two underage boys ended their lives in separate incidents, reported by Mandals Koyyalagudem and T. Narsapuram, West Godavari District, because their parents allegedly refused to buy them cell phones due to financial problems.

Puram Venkata Sai Chandu, 10, a fourth high school student from Mutyalampeta village, jumped into a cheruvu on Saturday.

“The boy asked his father Srinivas to buy him a smartphone. Since Mr. Srinivas refused to buy the phone, Sai Chandu had an argument with his mother and left the house. He jumped into the Cheruvu and drowned, ”said T. Narsapuram Police Sub-Inspector Ramakrishna.

One case has been registered and the investigation is ongoing, said Jangareddygudem DSP Ravi Kiran.

In another incident, M. Venkata Raju (16), son of Satyanarayana from the village of Ponguturu in the mandal of Koyyalagudem, allegedly used pesticides for the same reason a few days ago.

Venkata Raju, who was graduating from junior high school, died while receiving treatment. The police of Koyyalagudem have registered a case, said the DSP.

People with thoughts of suicide can seek help by dialing the “1092” hotline.

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