In the latest case, just three weeks ago, a Nanyang
Technological University undergraduate was beaten up and had his
laptop smashed - all because of an online game.
The 19-year-old Chinese national, an engineering student, was
attacked on Sept 24 at about 11.30pm.
He had been playing Defence of the Ancients
(Dota), an online team strategy game, when he was asked by another
player to assume the role of a character he did not want to
play.
What could have been just a minor disagreement online turned ugly
when the victim, who lived on campus, challenged the other player
to look for him if he dared to.
He then gave his block and room number. A group of about seven
turned up at his doorstep.
A neighbour who happened to step out of his room saw 'a group of
four or five people' standing outside the victim's room.
'From the windows, I could see another two guys in the room. One
seemed to be guarding the victim's room-mate while another chap was
beating up the victim,' the neighbour said.
He added that the victim was then dragged out of the room and
'dumped' on a grass patch after about 15 to 20 minutes.
Campus security was alerted, and the police called in.
When The Straits Times visited the victim two weeks ago, he
appeared well except for some scratches on his arm. There was also
masking tape on his glasses. His laptop had been replaced by a
small notebook.
Both he and his room-mate - who was unharmed - declined to be
interviewed.
Source: ST
