Ludo game turns violent, Tailor stabbed by daily companion

 

By Sumesh Rajan | 5 July 2025

Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: A casual mobile game of Ludo turned into a life-threatening incident in the Lalganj locality of Gorakhpur, when a minor dispute between two regular players escalated into a violent knife attack. The accused, a youth from Panditpur, allegedly stabbed his daily gaming companion, Shakeel Ahmed, a local tailor, after an argument spiraled out of control.

According to police sources, Shakeel Ahmed, a resident of Lalganj, was playing a mobile version of the traditional board game Ludo with the accused — a routine the two reportedly shared almost every day. However, during one such session on Thursday 3 July 2025 evening, a verbal altercation broke out between them over the game.

The argument quickly escalated, and in a shocking turn of events, the youth allegedly pulled out a knife and attacked Shakeel, stabbing him in the stomach and shoulder. As the victim collapsed in a pool of blood, bystanders rushed to his aid and alerted authorities. The attacker fled the scene, allegedly threatening to kill anyone who tried to intervene.

Police personnel arrived promptly and shifted the injured Shakeel to the Community Health Centre (CHC), where his condition is currently reported as stable. A case has been registered based on a complaint filed by Shakeel’s son, Danish.

SHO Chandrabhan Singh confirmed that the accused has been identified and efforts are underway to apprehend him. “We are pursuing all leads and are confident of arresting the accused soon,” he said.

The incident has sparked concern over the growing impact of digital games on youth behavior. What began as a harmless adaptation of a traditional board game into digital form has, in this case, ended in bloodshed — raising serious questions about the psychological triggers and aggression linked to online gaming.

While digital games are meant to entertain and connect people, psychiatrists warn that unchecked emotional reactions and excessive screen time can sometimes lead to violent outcomes.