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NCPCR seeks answers from the centre on the availability of PUBG in India even after the ban

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The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the country’s main child rights organization, demanded answers from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Tuesday, days after a 16-year-old boy reportedly shot and killed his mother when she prevented him from playing the online game, on how, and why the game PUBG was available for the minors to play.

The government outlawed the popular gaming application PUBG and many others in the year 2020, deeming them a threat to the country’s sovereignty, integrity, and defense. A minor kid reportedly shot and killed his mother a few days ago on being stopped from playing the addictive game in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow.

PUBG, the gaming app, was one of the 118 Chinese apps that were banned in 2020. According to the authorities, the 16-year-old child shot his mother in the head with his father’s licensed pistol on June 4. The woman died soon after and the boy concealed her body in their house for two days. He was alleged of using a room freshener to mask the stench of the rotting body.

Banned PUBG still available for minors!

“In view of this incident, it is beyond the understanding of the commission how a banned game…which has been blocked by the government, is still available for use by minors. Therefore, the Commission requests your good offices to inform reasons for availability of such blocked applications over the internet,” the NCPCR wrote to the ministry secretary.

NCPCR also demanded to get notified of any actions taken in such cases and be provided with a list of such games being used by minors, as well as their regulatory organizations and regulating mechanisms within 10 days after receiving this letter. The commission also wrote a letter to the president of the Indian Olympic Association, complaining about the fact that PUBG has earned recognition as an e-sport and has further been recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

“In the said regard it is requested that the commission may be informed regarding the current status as to whether PUBG or any other similar e-game has been recognized by your organization. It is requested that the commission may be informed regarding such games which are being used by minors along with their recognition status within 10 days of receipt of this letter,” it said.

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