Ghaziabad Tragedy: Forensic Data Reveals Sisters Spent Nearly 20 Hours a Day on Phones, Deeply Immersed in Online Fantasy World

Ghaziabad: In a deeply disturbing development in the deaths of three minor sisters in Bharat City, police investigations have revealed that the girls were spending almost 18 to 20 hours daily on their mobile phones, consuming online content and playing games.

The three sisters, aged 16, 14 and 12, were found lying next to each other on February 4 on the society premises, directly below the ninth-floor window of their apartment. They were rushed to hospital but were declared dead on arrival.

What Forensic Data Revealed

Police have recovered incremental digital data from a mobile phone that was sold by their father, Chetan Kumar, to an electronics shop in Shalimar Garden about 15 days before the incident for ₹15,000. The device was sent for forensic examination to retrieve deleted information and trace the sisters’ digital activity.

According to investigators:

• The sisters were heavily engaged with Korean content, particularly K-pop music and Korean dramas.
• The YouTube history showed extensive streaming of Korean, Chinese, Thai and Japanese songs and shows.
• Several horror-themed online games mentioned in their alleged suicide note were found on the device, including Poppy Playtime, The Baby in Yellow, Evil Nun, Ice Scream and other similar titles.
• Cartoons such as Doraemon, Shinchan, Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Masha and the Bear were also frequently viewed.

Police officials stated that a report has been sent to the government recommending a ban on the five horror games cited in the investigation.

Growing Isolation and Virtual Identity

Investigators also found that the sisters had stopped attending school after the Covid pandemic and had gradually withdrawn from social interaction. With few, if any, friends, they reportedly became increasingly dependent on each other and on their phones.

In 2025, the sisters had launched a YouTube channel focused on K-dramas and cartoon characters, which had gained over 2,000 followers. However, the channel was deleted approximately 10 days before the incident, reportedly after their father objected to what he considered an escalating obsession with Korean culture.

A private tutor who briefly taught the girls told police that they introduced themselves using Korean names — Maria, Aliza and Cindy — and claimed they had been adopted from Korea and China. The tutor further stated that the sisters were academically weak and struggled even with basic mathematical calculations.

Investigation Ongoing

Police are now attempting to recover another phone that was sold by the father three months prior to the incident. Investigators are also examining the sisters’ social media interactions to determine whether they were in contact with anyone outside the family.

Officials have stressed that the investigation is ongoing and that conclusions will only be drawn after the final forensic report is completed.

The tragedy has raised broader concerns about excessive digital exposure, online isolation, and the impact of prolonged unsupervised screen time on young minds.