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 His laptop had been replaced by a small notebook.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.