Thiruvananthapuram: Concerns have risen in Kerala after the families of two youths aired doubts that their children died after getting hooked to the deadly online game, Blue Whale Challenge, that has reportedly taken lives of youths in different parts of the world.
In the latest incident, local media reported that the death of a young man from the northern district of Kannur may have been as a result of playing the game.
The youth, who was a student of a local technical institute, had been found dead earlier this year. His parents recalled that he had been on his mobile for long hours in the night in the period leading up to his death, and that he was often depressed.
Sensing the mood swings of the youth, the parents had taken him for counselling, but that could not bring about a noticeable change in his behaviour.
The parents’ suspicion about the youth’s death comes after another couple in Thiruvananthapuram voiced doubts that their son, too, had taken his life after being hooked to Blue Whale Challenge.
In the other case, the couple’s 16-year-old son was found hanging in their house, apparently instigated by the game to take the extreme step. His mother told media that she had noticed stark changes in his behaviour over a period of several months, apparently after he had downloaded a copy of the game and started playing it. Some of his weird acts included going to a far off place without informing the family, and jumping into a river even though he did not know swimming, she said.
State Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the game is not available on the internet so that youths and others are not lured by it.
The Kerala Police’s hi-tech cell has issued an advisory against internet games such as the Blue Whale Challenge. Across the state, numerous youths and children are feared to be addicted to the game.
Police, however, have not confirmed that the deaths of the youths in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur were as a result of playing Blue Whale Challenge. Even as investigations are under way, many parents are worried whether their own children will take a fancy for the game.
