The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently instructed its commanding officers to ban troops from playing the Battle Royale game, PUBG Mobile.
A senior CRPF officer posted in the paramilitary force’s Delhi headquarters said an internal survey shows that the “addiction” had “affected the jawans’ operational capabilities”.
Senior officials also argued that the game affects other aspects of the troops' lives.
“Many of them have stopped socialising with their fellow jawans. It has also led to sleep deprivation because of reduced physical activity,” a senior CRPF officer posted in CRPF’s Delhi headquarters was quoted as saying. Another officer said that “a violent game like PUBG has led to aggressive thoughts, emotions and behaviour, affecting the jawans’ mental well-being. Spending most of their time on the virtual game has left them socially inactive.” Apparently, several jawans have isolated themselves from the real world, “which is dangerous for physical and mental health”.
“It has been reportedly learned that CRPF troops, young personnel are addicted to PUBG. It’s getting these men addicted to it and getting them engaged to a great extent which is affecting their ops performance, aggressive and attitudinal issues,” said the May 6 order issued by the Bihar unit.
“All deputy inspectors-general (DIGs) to ensure and instruct all unit/company personnel under your command to get it deleted/deactivated such apps from their mobile phones. All company commanders will ensure that this app is deleted in all phones and random check of phones should be done,” the circular, sent to all CRPF formations and the force’s anti-insurgency CoBRA unit, added.
PUBG has emerged as one of the most popular games around the world. PUBG is already in the news for being a major distraction for children and teens.