Boy addicted to PUBG commits suicide in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: A 15-year-old boy who was addicted to Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) on the mobile phone allegedly committed suicide, highlighting once again the debate surrounding PUBG and its effects on young minds.

The victim has been identified as Boya Lohit, a Class X student of a private school. The boy is alleged to have committed suicide upset at being scolded by his parents for playing the online PUBG game and not studying for his exams. The suicide apparently was committed in the Pedagantyada area under the New Port police station in Vizag city.

Inspector of New Port police station K.P. Naidu said, “Boya Lohit, was addicted to playing PUBG on the mobile phones of his parents. His parents reprimanded him for being glued to the mobile phone. About 10 days ago took away the mobile phone. Upset at being scolded and the mobile snatched away, on the same evening when his parents had gone out to buy vegetables, Lohit consumed a powder used to kill ants after mixing it in water.”

The boy was found unconscious by his parents when they returned. He was shifted to a private hospital at Gajuwaka for treatment the same day night. Later, the boy was shifted to another corporate hospital and then to KG Hospital in Vizag city, where he succumbed Tuesday night while undergoing treatment.

A case under Section 174 of CrPC was registered and investigation is on said police officer Naidu. PUBG is often called 'addictive', 'harmful', and 'distracting'. Earlier, on March 14, 2019 PUBG was banned in different cities. We appeal to parents to observe their children and request them not to give their mobile phones to children to play online games, the police officer added.