Based on an alert from S.S. Ahluwalia, Minister of State in the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, the Chennai Central Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued a 17-year-old boy, who had come to the city to end his life as part of a Blue Whale game task.
RPF Inspector V. Mohan said he received a call from the Minister’s personal assistant around 10.30 a.m. on Saturday and the picture of the boy was sent to him. Subsequently, the Minister explained that the boy had left his house in Siliguri, West Bengal, for ending his life in Chennai, the last task of the game. “But they did not know by which train he had left,” said Mr. Mohan. The same information was also received by Louis Amuthan, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Chennai, and he formed a special team, comprising Mr. Mohan and five others.
Around 6.30 p.m, while the team was checking the Coromandel Express that had arrived from Howrah, they spotted a boy, who resembled the 17-year-old. “He did not have a ticket. I spoke to him in Hindi. Initially, he claimed to be someone else. But later, he admitted the truth,” said Mr. Mohan.
He told them that two persons, who were handlers of the game, had contacted him over phone and directed him to go to Chennai and end his life. They were supposed to give further directions after he reached the city. “He is pursuing his Bachelors degree in his hometown,” the inspector said.
He was carrying a book in which he had drawn a noose, a wire, the act of stabbing and jumping off aeroplanes, among others. “After he went missing, his friends tipped off his parents about his Blue Whale game addiction. We have informed the Minister’s office and they have informed the parents, who will come here and take him back home,” said Mr. Mohan.