PUBG alert: Cops launch helpline, issue advisory

AHMEDABAD: With the explosion of the popular mobile game, PUBG or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, city police’s cyber cell, along with Gujarat Technological University (GTU), issued an advisory about the game, which has become a rage with youngsters.
The cyber cell asked parents or persons facing problem due to the game to call its helpline number: 079-22861917.

This policing action purportedly comes after the cops got distress calls from parents worried about their wards’ growing addiction to the game. GTU faculty members and students have also started conducting workshops at several schools and colleges, to sensitize people about the adverse effects of the game.

What the advisory says: In its advisory, the cyber cell claims to underscore the harmful effects of the online game. “Addiction to online games may cause many terrible things”, it claims.

“Excessive online gaming can have an adverse impact on students’ health as they spend more time playing the games rather than getting some physical exercise.”

The advisory went on to claim that PUBG will also affect learning attitudes, relationships with family and friends besides making players behave aggressively.

“Students’ brains may get numb and there can be severe memory issues if they get addicted to the game,” the advisory claims.

“Kids may download games from less reputed sites. As a result, they end up downloading spam, viruses and malware. Besides, personal information like private images and confidential information becomes vulnerable,” it says.

On why police are exhorting youngsters not to play with friends, SI Sunil Nair of the cyber cell said, “This game is played in a group. So, if a group of friends play, it will spread rapidly as every individual in that group will definitely try to convince their friends to play the game.”

Navin Sheth, GTU vice-chancellor, said the cyber cell officials sought help from teachers and students at the varsity to spread awareness on the adverese effects of online gaming. “We have also conducted awareness programmes at 24 schools covering 5,000 students and 500 teachers,” said Sheth.

City-based psychiatrist Dr Kalrav Mistry said he has examined three cases of PUBG addiction in the past few weeks. “We counsel youngsters and give medicines to those addicted to this online game.

In such cases of addiction, parents’ counselling also becomes necessary as their behaviour often leads children towards such games. Besides, group counselling is also done in PUBG cases,” he said.