A 19-year-old college student Ishita Mallick, was shot dead at her residence in West Bengal’s Krishnanagar in Nadia district in the last week of August, sparking a police investigation into suspected premeditated murder. The victim, a NEET aspirant was shot at point-blank range. Authorities suspect a former friend, identified as 23-year-old Deshraj Singh, is responsible for the crime, which is thought to be rooted in a personal dispute.

Deshraj, 23, a resident of Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas had reportedly developed a relationship with the victim in 2023. However, the relationship had recently ended after Ishita chose to distance herself from him.

Deshraj Singh, the accused in Ishita’s murder has been arrested from the Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh. Police sources said that on Wednesday, Ishita’s mother and brother will be taken to the Krishnanagar jail to identify Deshraj. He also tried to kill the girl’s mother and brother. However, the bullet couldn’t be fired as the trigger got locked.

Police is trying to arrest Deshraj’s father, BSF personnel Raghuwinder Pratap Singh, from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan by Wednesday and bring him to Kolkata. An arrest warrant has been sent to the BSF for the second time in this regard. Police is suspecting the accused used his father’s firearm to commit the crime.

How mobile game Free Fire encourages violence?

The investigation into the murder of Ishita Mallick has brought to light a mobile game called ‘Free Fire’. Police has revealed that accused Deshraj was addicted to that game. So much so that his mind used to wander in a virtual world all the time. The world of fantasy and reality had become completely merged for him so much so that he had no problem firing three bullets at his girlfriend Ishita’s head.

According to police, in the game, you have to shoot your enemy straight at the head. This will increase your points. You have to kill your opponent at any cost. Deshraj being addicted to this game, the shooting on the head scene of that game was so ingrained in his head that, he could not differentiate between fantasy and reality. So much so that, much like the opponent in the game, his hands did not tremble while shooting Ishita three times in a row, the police revealed this information after interrogating the accused.

Murder was planned after romantic proposal rejected by victim

They also learned that not only that, but he was used to seeing blood in virtual games as well. That is why he was not scared seeing so much blood after shooting Ishita. Police have learned that Deshraj’s behaviour was so rude that many of his friends maintained a distance from him. When he had proposed to Ishita, the girl was reluctant initially. Deshraj, who could not accept her rejection, had plotted to kill Ishita seven months ago, according to the police.

Police revealed that Ishita had ended her communication with the accused in recent months, following the breakdown of a relationship that reportedly began in 2023.

District Police to raise awareness on ill-effects of mobile games among students

According to Krishnanagar district Superintendent of Police Amarnath K, students did not have to go to school during the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown. They were very far away from social relations, due to social isolation. At this time, many students became addicted to mobile games. It is during this time that Deshraj, who was in high school at that time, got addicted to the Free Fire game. Even after entering college, his addiction to this extremely violent game did not stop. The violence in the game had become “normal” for him.

After this incident, the district police plan to raise awareness among school and college students on why social media and mobile games are not always good and what harm they can cause. Students, who are addicted to social media or mobile games, will be counselled.

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