Fri Feb 21 15:34:12 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Teen, Addicted to Mobile Games, Found in Uttar Pradesh After Month-Long Odyssey
**Erode, Tamil Nadu, February 21, 2025** – A 16-year-old boy from Rajasthan, addicted to mobile games, was rescued by police in Uttar Pradesh after a month-long disappearance. The Class IX student, who had been living with relatives in Erode, Tamil Nadu, for three months, left home on January 30th after his phone malfunctioned and he lacked the funds for repairs.
His subsequent journey involved walking 30 kilometers to Salem, selling his phone, and traveling by bus and train to Uttar Pradesh. Driven by his addiction and after viewing online videos of a religious preacher, he sought out the preacher’s ashram.
The boy’s family, concerned about his gaming habit and lack of interest in studies, filed a missing person report with the Karungalpalayam police. Using CCTV footage and other investigative techniques, the police tracked him to the ashram and brought him back to Erode on Thursday. After questioning, he was returned to his family, with police issuing a warning. The incident highlights the growing concern surrounding mobile game addiction among youth.
First Piper 