Three siblings chose to take all cash from home and run away after their father confiscated their mobile phone. A disturbing incident from Gujarat’s Surat has once again raised serious concerns about growing mobile gaming addiction among children after these three minor siblings allegedly ran away from home when their father took away the mobile phone they used to play Free Fire.
Police said the children — a 14-year-old boy, his 11-year-old brother and their 9-year-old sister — left their house in the early hours while the family was asleep. Investigators suspect the siblings may have boarded a train to Mumbai after allegedly taking Rs 15,000 cash from their home. The parents were worried about increase in fuel prices and living standards which irritated the kids and “disturbed” their concentration on the game. Soon, their father took away their phone.
The case has shocked many parents because of the children’s young age and the extreme reaction reportedly triggered by restrictions on mobile gaming.
According to police, the siblings had become heavily addicted to Garena Free Fire, one of the country’s most popular online battle games. Family members told investigators that the children spent long hours playing on their father’s mobile phone.
The situation reportedly escalated after the children’s father travelled to his native village last month and accidentally left his phone behind at home. During his absence, the children allegedly spent most of their time gaming.
When he returned, the children’s mother expressed concern over what she saw as growing dependence on mobile games. In an attempt to control their screen time, the father reportedly removed the SIM card from the phone and locked the device inside a cupboard three days before the children disappeared.
Police believe the children were upset by the decision and may have planned to leave home after being denied access to the game.
“The complainant informed us that the children spent most of their time playing mobile games,” said SD Rathod. “The father had counselled and scolded them over this habit. The children appear to have taken the matter seriously and left home with cash and belongings.”
The family, which belongs to Surat’s textile labour community, immediately approached police after discovering the children missing.
Authorities have now formed five separate police teams to trace the siblings. CCTV footage reviewed during the investigation reportedly shows the children safe. Police suspect they may have travelled towards Mumbai by train, and search operations are currently underway at railway stations and other possible locations.
While the children are yet to be traced, the incident has triggered wider concerns over excessive screen exposure and gaming dependency among minors.
Mental health experts and child behaviour specialists have repeatedly warned that uncontrolled gaming habits can affect emotional regulation, attention span, social interaction and decision-making abilities among children. In many households, mobile phones have increasingly become both entertainment devices and emotional escape spaces for children, particularly after the pandemic years.
The Surat case highlights how conflicts over digital restrictions are becoming a growing challenge for parents across India.
What appears at first glance to be a simple disagreement over a mobile phone has now turned into a major police search involving three missing children — underlining how deeply online gaming addiction can impact young minds if left unchecked.
Also Read: Guj Govt Considers Mobile Phone Ban in Schools After Student Suicide https://www.vibesofindia.com/guj-govt-considers-mobile-phone-ban-in-schools-after-student-suicide/
