Davanagere: A youngster in the city allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself after reportedly losing around Rs 18 lakh in online games and incurring heavy debts to repay the dues.

Shashikumar (25), a resident of Saraswathi Nagar, had invested money while playing the games online and lost nearly Rs 18 lakh. He was depressed as he had been forced him to borrow money to pay the amount.

The youngster, who has written a six-page death note, has said that the app showed that he had won up to Rs 19,25,21,722 but, when he contacted the gaming website personnel, he was told that the money was not sent to him.

“I had invested lakhs of rupees on the game and, while the website personnel ensured that I paid them the money when I lost a game, they did not pay me when I won. A complaint has also been filed in the matter with the Vidyanagar Police,” Shashikumar has said in the death note.

His death note includes a two-page request to the chief minister, deputy chief minister and chief justice of the high court asking for a ban on online games. He has asked MP Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun to raise the issue in Parliament.

A case has been filed in KTG Nagar Police Station. Investigation is underway.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)

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Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.

The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.

As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.

"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.

"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.

Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.