The suicide of three minor girls in Ghaziabad has left everyone in a state of shock and concern. While an investigation into it is still ongoing, recently, the UP Police has asked that five particular apps be banned from online gaming platforms.
The initial reason for the suicide was said to be the confiscation of the sisters’ phones and their being overly obsessed with Korean culture, in particular an online game.
While new information has been coming out that things weren’t so straightforward and the home situation of the girls was distressing and abusive, it has once again raised concerns about the access kids have to mobile phones and online gaming, along with the impact it can have on them.
Debates have been raging nationwide about gaming addiction, digital regulation for minors, and the responsibilities of developers and families. This recent development by the Uttar Pradesh police is only adding to it.
Which Apps Does The UP Police Want Banned?
Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad police, in a letter, has formally recommended that the state government ban five online gaming applications after they were allegedly linked to the tragic deaths of three young sisters in Ghaziabad.
The police say these games were repeatedly mentioned in a suicide note and diary recovered in the case, and that the girls spent extensive hours playing these games alongside consuming online content.
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP- trans-Hindon zone) Nimish Patil, speaking with Hindustan Times, said, “In their suicide note, there is mention of five online gaming apps that the girls were using. We have written to the state authorities to get the apps banned. This recommendation will further be sent from the state to the Centre for taking appropriate steps.”
The five games named by the police are:
- Poppy Playtime: a survival horror puzzle game set in an abandoned toy factory.
- The Baby in Yellow: a psychological horror game where players care for a sinister baby.
- Evil Nun: a mobile horror title involving escape and stealth challenges.
- Ice Cream Man: a suspenseful horror game with eerie narrative elements.
- Ice Game: a puzzle or strategy-style game.
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Officials argue that the games may have played a role in the girls’ mental state and daily routines, citing the suicide note’s references as evidence of intense engagement.
Authorities are framing these games as harmful digital influences because of their addictive mechanics, emotionally charged content, and immersive qualities that can make it difficult for children to disengage without support. Parents and teachers have also been advised to monitor children’s mobile usage more closely and minimise unsupervised access to such apps.
The father of the girls also claimed that his daughters had not been going to school for the past three years and brought up their addiction to mobile phones, online games and entertainment as things that concerned him.
Babita Singh Chauhan, chairperson of Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, also raised concerns about growing addiction to mobile phones, and as per reports, wrote to district magistrates across the state, requesting that schools should not use mobile phones to send homework or projects for students up to Class 5.
What Was This Incident?
On the early morning of 4 February 2026, three sisters, Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12), were found dead after allegedly jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment building in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
As per reports, local residents heard a loud noise around 2 a.m., and the girls were declared dead after being taken to a nearby hospital.
Initial police reports linked the tragedy to the girls’ obsessive online engagement with mobile gaming and digital culture.
According to investigations, they had become increasingly isolated and absorbed in online activities, including watching K-dramas and K-pop videos, as well as playing a task-based Korean game that reportedly demanded repeated tasks, rewards, and long hours of play.
Chetan Kumar, the father, told TOI, “The sisters had been playing task-based online games for at least two to three years and were deeply fascinated by Korean names. They often spoke about wanting to visit the country.”
The sisters took the drastic and tragic step when their father confiscated and sold their phones around two weeks before. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trans-Hindon, Dasharath Nimish Patil said, “The father of the girls had sold two mobile phones – one about six months ago and the other very recently. We are trying to recover the phones and the data in them, if available.”
On the night of the incident, police claim that the sisters attempted to access their mother’s mobile phone to play the game; however, they were unable to access the Korean application.
The police also revealed that a nine-page pocket diary was recovered from the sisters’ room that showed the strong attachment the sisters had for Korean culture, along with other claims about family discord, resentment and feeling trapped.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Hindustan Times, Firstpost, Moneycontrol
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: UP Police, UP Police apps, UP Police app ban, Ghaziabad cops, Ghaziabad police, Ghaziabad sister suicide, gaming apps, gaming app ban, gaming app ban india
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