A man in Ahmedabad committed suicide after completing the notorious 'Blue Whale Challenge', according to a video he posted on his Facebook page before taking the extreme step – a claim disputed by the police.
Ashok Maluna, 30, a resident of Palanpur in Banaskantha district, jumped into the Sabarmati river on 31 August from the city's Sardar bridge. His body was fished out from near Paldi, police said.
The police said they have found no evidence that Maluna took the online challenge when he killed himself. They said the 30-year-old took the extreme step because he was suffering from cancer and was depressed.
Maluna went live on Facebook on 31 August, apparently just before his suicide, where he can be heard saying he was taking his life after reaching the last stage of the Blue Whale Challenge. “I downloaded the Blue Whale game and this is the last step, which is why I am committing suicide,” he was allegedly heard saying in the short video.
In the video, Maluna said he is fed up with life and asked his friends to contact his family members and hand them over Rs 46,000 that he was carrying in a bag. “I am fed up with my life which is why I am making this video. Please convey this to my family members... I don't know how to tell them how much I love them.”
He said he even went to Mumbai to commit suicide but could not do so due to heavy rains there.
Inspector of Riverfront police station J A Bhagora said the police have not yet come across the Blue Whale angle in his death.
“We have not yet found any evidence linking his suicide to Blue Whale game. He had come to Ahmedabad to get treatment for cancer, but committed suicide as he was depressed over his illness. The Palanpur police, who spoke to his family members, have also not found any such evidence,” he said.
The Blue Whale Challenge, which originated in Russia, starts by asking participants via social media to draw a blue whale on a piece of paper.
The participants are then asked to carve the shape of a whale onto their body. They are given other “challenges” or “tasks” such as watching horror movies alone. These challenges or dares feature the commission of acts harming oneself. The last stage is suicide.
Boy in Delhi Cuts Himself Over the Game
A teenage boy was put under observation in Delhi after he cut himself as part of the challenge, police said. The 17-year-old boy’s identity has been withheld, but he allegedly cut himself using an instrument from his geometry kit.
Also Read: Do Blue Whale Warning Messages Do More Harm Than Good?
(#TalkingStalking: Have you ever been stalked? Share your experience with The Quint and inspire others to shatter the silence surrounding stalking. Send your stories to editor@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)