The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has written to the IT ministry and Indian Olympic Association on the availability of the videogame PUBG banned in India after a child allegedly killed his mother for stopping him from playing the game.
NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanungo has written to IT secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney as well as IOA chief Narinder Dhruv Batra asking them how was it that the game was available in India after reports emerged that a Lucknow teenager allegedly shot his mother after she stopped him from playing the game on his phone.
In his letter to the IT secretary, Kanungo asked that since the game was blocked in India under section 69 of the Information and Technology Act as well as the provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009, how was it still available.
“... it is beyond the understanding of the Commission that how a banned game in India, which has been blocked by the Government of India, is still available for use by minors,” Kanungo’s letter said. It has asked for a reply from the ministry within 10 days.
In another letter, Kanungo asked IOA to reply within 10 days if the Association recognises PUBG since the game is recognised as an “esport” by the Olympic Council of Asia.
However, the Uttar Pradesh Child Rights State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, after questioning the child, has said that it is not possible that the child killed his own mother and said that another person could be involved in the crime.
Published 14 June 2022, 14:20 IST