Mangaluru: A 17-year-old boy, who is in conflict with the law after being accused of murdering his neighbour Akif (12), was produced in the Juvenile Justice Court in Udupi and sent to an observation home on Monday.

Meanwhile, Ullal police arrested his father, aged 45 years, for allegedly giving protection to his son in conflict with the law. The suspect boy’s father, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, has been residing here for the past 30 years and is working as a driver.

Sources in Ullal police station told DH that the suspect came home and informed his father of murdering Akif while playing a mobile game. The man not only forced his son to remain silent but also had dragged the boy’s body to a secluded place, they said.

City Police Commissioner of Police N Shashi Kumar, keeping the safety of the suspect boy’s brother and mother in mind, provided police security to their house.

Shashi Kumar later took to social media and tweeted in both English and Kannada languages urging parents to keep an eye on their children playing PUBG games on the mobile phones.

“I appeal to all educational institutions and parents to keep a watch on their children playing mobile games. A 12-year-old boy was murdered over a quarrel during a PUBG game,” he said.