In parts of India, playing PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) is now banned. It’s gone so far that the first players are being arrested for diving into the battle royale.
Why were the players arrested? As PCGamesN reports, at least 16 people have now been arrested in India for playing PUBG despite the ban. Initially, there were reports of 10 arrests, but that number has now risen to at least 16. The police chief, Manoj Agrawal, explained that these are crimes against bail. In China, however, PUBG cheaters are scolded and slapped.
What happens to the players? After the arrests were made, the police immediately bailed them. The case will be brought to court. If one does not comply with the summons, there will be a trial.
The players’ phones were confiscated for investigation. After 3 young men were arrested, the police commissioner stated: “This game is very addictive. The accused were so absorbed in the game that they didn’t even notice our team approaching.”
According to reports, the PUBG ban in India is enforced under Article 188 of the Indian Penal Code. This means that a maximum sentence of one month in prison and a small fine may follow.
Why is PUBG banned in India? More and more cities in India have been enforcing a ban on PUBG for about a week now. The reasoning is that the game is addictive and promotes violence. In a police report announcing the ban, it states (via Kotaku):
“These games influence the education of children and youth and also affect behavior, manners, language, and the development of adolescents and children.”
The ban followed comments from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who stated that games like PUBG and Fortnite pose challenges for Indian parents.
Are there similar cases? There have been arrests related to PUBG before. In China, PUBG had to be adapted to socialist core values. And cheaters are hit hard there. A total of 15 cheaters were locked up:
