BGMI to resume operations in India as govt gives 3-month trial approval
New Delhi, May 19: Online gaming app Battleground Mobile India will resume operations in India after the government revoked the ban from it for a 3-month trial period.
South Korean gaming company Krafton owns Battleground Mobile India.
''This is a 3 month trial approval of #BGMI after it has complied with issues of server locations n data security etc. We will keep a close watch on other issues of user harm, addiction etc in next three month before a final decision is taken,'' Chandrasekhar tweeted.
BGMI was removed from app stores after a government order last year.
''We are highly grateful to the Indian authorities for allowing us to resume operations of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI),'' Krafton, Inc India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said in a statement.
Sohn further said ''we would like to extend our gratitude to our Indian gaming community for their support and patience over the past few months. We are excited to announce that BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA will be available for download soon and we cannot wait to welcome you back to our platform.'' He said that the company believes in the power of gaming to bring people together and create unforgettable experiences.
''We are committed to delivering exceptional products and services to our users in India and beyond, and we look forward to continuing our journey with you,'' Sohn said.
Krafton has denied any link of BGMI with Tencent.
''At Krafton, Inc, we are deeply committed to the Indian gaming ecosystem. Our approach has always been India-first, which serves as the foundation of all our efforts. We believe in investing in the Indian gaming industry and contributing to building a vibrant ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation,'' Sohn said.
Krafton has made investments in some of the Indian gaming firms including Nodwin Gaming.
Sohn said Krafton aims to augment technology developments in India by collaborating with local developers and promoting the use of cutting-edge technologies.
''We also recognize the importance of providing skilling and employment opportunities for Indian talent, which can help them nurture their skillset and thrive in the industry,'' Sohn said.
BGMI had over 100 million users at the time it was banned in India.
''We are very humbled by the love we have received for BGMI in less than two years of launching it in the country. The title achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 100 million cumulative users shortly after a year of its launch.
''Since its inception, BGMI has contributed significantly to building a robust Esports ecosystem in the country by providing India-centric events and content,'' Sohn said.
Krafton said BGMI has made history by becoming the first Esports event to be broadcasted on mainstream television attracting 24 million concurrent viewers and a total of 200 million viewers.
Krafton Inc India, Head of Government Affairs, Vibhor Kukreti said Krafton Inc is a responsible South Korean organization that abides by the law and has put in place several measures to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
''We work tirelessly to ensure that India takes the lead in this domain by embracing innovative practices in collaboration with the gaming ecosystem to support, sustain and promote its growth. We strongly encourage our users to prioritize their well-being and follow responsible gaming practices,'' he said.
Kukreti said that the company is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our players and believes that by promoting responsible gaming.
''We can contribute to a healthier gaming culture, where players can enjoy themselves while still taking care of their overall well-being.
''We want to thank all our fans for their unwavering support, and we want them to know that we are fully committed to bringing BGMI back to them soon. Their continued support means a lot to us, and we promise to keep working hard to ensure that they have the best possible gaming experience,'' he said.
@BgmiDev on 3-month trial before it gets final approval
— Nishant Arora (@nisharotech) May 19, 2023
The government will keep a close watch on other issues of user harm, addiction, etc in next three months before a final decision is taken, says @Rajeev_GoI #Krafton#bgmiunban https://t.co/ZMxx01H0Hd
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19-yr-old woman found hanging from tree in UP village; juvenile held
Lucknow/Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): Police have apprehended a 16-year-old boy for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found hanging from a tree in a village here, officials said on Monday.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, said that the body of a 19-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in an orchard in the Manikpur police station area on Sunday morning. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that she had been raped.
Police registered a case against unidentified persons under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder) and 70(1) (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and initiated an investigation.
During the course of the investigation, the police found that the deceased was in contact with a juvenile who was also her relative.
Acting on this information, during a joint checking operation, sub-inspector Amit Kumar Singh of Manikpur police station and SOG In-charge Amit Kumar Chaurasia, along with their team, apprehended the 16-year-old near the Lehdari Ganga River bridge.
The search for other accused persons is ongoing, police said.
According to the police, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on Saturday night but was found hanging in an orchard nearly 400 metres away from her home the following morning.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, had earlier said that the circumstances suggest foul play.
"The victim's slippers and undergarments were recovered 50 metres away from the spot where the body was found. There are visible injury marks on her body," Rai said.
While locals have alleged that the woman was murdered after being raped, the ASP said that it is "prima facie a case of murder."
"Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons," the officer added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a post on X in Hindi on Monday, said, "The news of the heinous murder of a Dalit daughter in Pratapgarh is deeply tragic and condemnable."
"The question remains: why does the spate of murders of 'PDA daughters' continue unabated in Uttar Pradesh? Are the BJP government's claims regarding women's safety merely hollow rhetoric, or is there, in fact, discrimination even in the provision of security for women?" he said.
"Whenever the 'wandering Honourable (ghumantu maananiye)' finds a moment of respite from election campaigning, he should cast a glance at the plight of the daughters of his own Uttar Pradesh. In any case, apart from injustice and oppression, no sister, daughter, or mother of this state holds any hope from you," Yadav added.
