Blue Whale Challenge victim: I won’t be able to forgive myself for my entire life, says Karan’s father

Devinder Thakur, the father of Karan, in Panchkula on Monday. (Express Photo/Jaipal Singh)

Devinder Thakur says he would never forgive himself for not taking his son Karan (16) to a doctor, even after he asked his parents for medical attention and even told them the reason though he did not mention Blue Whale. Some 20 days back, Karan had informed his parents that he was getting addicted to “a game” and specifically asked to see a psychiatrist. The family went to the hospital but returned home without seeing a doctor due to the rush at the general hospital in Sector 6.

“That day, we went to the hospital but mistakenly the staff wrote a wrong room number. We kept shuttling for a while and when we reached the right room, there was so much of rush that after standing in the queue for a while, Karan himself told us that it wasn’t that urgent and we could come some other day,” said the father.

Read | 16-year-old boy commits suicide in Panchkula, mother says he was addicted

Thakur then broke down and said, “Had I followed it up the next day and positively shown him to the doctor, he would have been with us today. I didn’t take it that seriously… I won’t be able to forgive myself for my entire life.”

Karan Thakur, 16, allegedly committed suicide on Saturday morning.

A pall of gloom had descended on the Thakur home. Neighbours were streaming in for condolences.

The father who says that he doesn’t want any other child to fall prey to this game, said, “Through you [the media], I just want to say that don’t ever give a smartphone to your kid. It is only after attaining the age of 20 that they should be allowed to use a smartphone.”

Karan had asked for a new phone from his father sometime back. But, he was told to get good marks in his boards this year following which he would get a new phone.

Also read | What is the Blue Whale Challenge?

Rahul, his cousin, said, “He was given this mobile some two years back but he wanted a new one. He told me that he would get good marks and only after that his parents would buy him one.”

A WhatsApp display picture (DP) on the number of the victim stated: Don’t get to close..It’s dark inside. It’s where my demons hide… (Express Photo)

The cousin, the son of a paternal uncle, lives in a house opposite. Karan would often go out with his cousins to walk their dog in the evening. “For some days, he wasn’t joining us. When we asked him, he would say that he isn’t in a mood. He started remaining confined to himself,” said a friend.