Blue Whale challenge: Two more kids in India fall prey to the online game, both rescued at the last moment

We had hoped this was over, but the horrific Blue Whale challenge seems to still be active among teens in India. After the case of the 14-year-old boy from Mumbai, two more cases have now been reported. One is a seven year old kid from Indore, and the other is a 14-year-old from Solapur. The kid from Indore attempted to jumped off the third floor of his school building, in a bid to commit suicide, while allegedly following instructions of the Blue Whale challenge. Fortunately, the kid was rescued by his classmates.

In a chilling statement, the seven year old told his teachers that he was asked to commit suicide in the game he played on his father’s phone, after he had failed to complete the task given in it. The incident took place in Chameli Devi School in Indore. The seven year old was going towards his class after the morning assembly when he climbed atop the railing, but was caught by his classmates.

The school’s physical training teacher Sheikh Mohommad Farukh, who pulled the boy away from the railing said that the boy was highly irritated when he was stopped from jumping. “The boy was initially scared, but later told us that he could not complete a task given to him while playing an online game and was asked to commit suicide,” TOI reported the school principal Sangeeta Poddar as saying. ALSO READ: Blue Whale inventor says he wants to ‘cleanse the society through the game’

“The online game is downloaded on his father’s mobile phone which he often used to play with. We are looking into the matter and have instructed the school to counsel the child and his parents,” Additional superintendent of police Rupesh Dwivedi told the publication.

The other case is of a 14-year-old from Solapur that was reported just yesterday, who was apparently on his way to Pune to complete a task given to him in the Blue Whale Challenge, but was rescued by the police before he could do anything.  RELATED: Blue Whale challenge is ammunition for those in favor of internet censorship

The local police intercepted a Pune-bound state transport bus, in which the teenager was travelling. “As soon as we were informed by our counterparts in Solapur, we intercepted the bus and rescued the boy, who was on his way to complete a task given by the Blue Whale Challenge game,” a Bhigwan police station officer told PTI. He said the boy appeared “lost” and was silent when the police took him with them.

“The boy’s businessman father came to the police station and took him home,” the officer said. According to him, the 14-year-old was addicted to the game. “After the boy went missing, his parents started inquiring with his friends when they came to know that he was playing the Blue Whale Challenge,” the official said. ALSO READ: Blue Whale is a disturbing game that is pushing teens towards suicide

Earlier this month, 14-year-old Manpreet Singh Sahani jumped off a building in Andheri in Mumbai. While the investigation still continues in his case, the cops widely believe the Blue Whale challenge to be the cause. Sahani had posted images as part of the challenge, and had also discussed about the game with his friends.

The inventor of this horrific game has been found and taken into custody. 21-year-old Philipp Budeikin, who hails from Russia, confessed to inciting at least 16 schoolgirls to kill themselves by taking part in this challenge. In a very deranged response, Budeikin reportedly said his victims are “biological waste”, and believes he is “cleansing society”. Budeikin has apparently been inundated with love letters from teenage girls addressed to him at a Russian jail, where he is remanded in custody. The 21-year-old told law enforcement interrogators that his victims were “happy to die”. ALSO READ: AI can detect depression, and we need it now in the Blue Whale age, more than ever