Teen killed self over ‘Blue Whale’ game, says Mumbai Police

Mumbai: The Meghwadi police officials have said that a 14-year-old boy, who allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor terrace of an Andheri (east) building, was part of an online suicide game, Blue Whale Game/Challenge. The police unofficially confirmed this after examining his browsing record on the Internet as gleaned from his mobile phone and desktop computer. The boy, Manpreet Singh, had discussed the online game with his friends in a WhatsApp group. The police will also examine Singh’s laptop that is password-protected. The online game, over a period of 50 days, ends with daring a participant to take the challenge for committing suicide. Singh jumped off the terrace on Saturday and died the same day.

The Class 9 student is probably the first victim of the game in India that has so far allegedly killed many in Russia and Europe. The police has questioned his school friends about his involvement in the game but nothing has cropped up until now. No cut marks were found on his body. The police will question the members of the WhatsApp group where Singh had discussed about Blue Whale Challenge.

On the condition of anonymity, the officials investigating this case revealed that Singh, who had jumped off the terrace of his building after shooting a video of himself while walking on the parapet of the terrace, was connected to the Blue Whale challenge.  

The Meghwadi police had sent a team to Manpreet’s school to check with his classmates, but it turned up nothing. However, when The Asian Age contacted assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Milind Khetle of Meghwadi division, he said, “The case is being investigated with all the possible angles and one of them is the Blue Whale challenge. As per our probe, so far nobody knew about his involvement in the game, we couldn’t rule out or confirm anything.”

ACP Khetle further added, “We could not meet his family members as they have gone to Nashik to perform post-death rituals.” Singh did not leave behind any suicide note and the police has filed an Accidental Death Report (ADR) as of now.

Police tries to block access

The police is yet to ascertain the source from which the Blue Whale Challenge/Game is downloaded. Probe has indicated that the game is app-based and the police wants to prevent Net users in the city from accessing it.

Brijesh Singh, inspector general of police, Maharashtra cyber police, said, “As of now, we have banned a few sites on the Internet which were reported by some vigilant users... The primary information that we have is that this is an app-based game. The source of this application will be traced.”