Stany Bela
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 29: A youth hailing from Assam, who had gone missing and who was on the brink of becoming a victim of the dreaded Blue Whale challenge, has been rescued in the nick of time by the members of Snehalaya rehabilitation centre at Pavoor here.

Wasim Akram (22), a resident of Nav Gaon, Assam went to Kerala about four months ago after he secured a housekeeping job in Kochi airport. Two months into the job, he was able to buy a new mobile phone. His colleagues then suggested that he download the Blue Whale game on his new phone. At first Wasim ignored their suggestions, but after a few days, one of them sent him the link to the game on his phone. Out of curiosity, Wasim opened the link and got connected to the administrator.

After a brief chat, the administrator gave Wasim a set of tasks, including drawing the shape of a whale on his bare arm on live camera. Wasim grew frightened and refused to carry out the task. Thereafter he uninstalled the game from his phone.

But that was not the end of it. A few days later, Wasim was once again tempted by his friends to try the challenge, but he did not download the game. Instead, on the suggestion of his friends, he practiced some of the tasks beforehand in order to prepare himself.

First, he tried to stop train at Kochi railway station, but luckily for him, the train stopped seconds away from hitting him. The railway police caught him, but he managed to escape from law by claiming that he was trying to cross the lane. The police imposed a fine and let him free. On hearing the news, the agency which had recruited him to work at the airport terminated him from the job.

He then stayed for a few days in a friend's room and managed to get a job at a restaurant. But he continued to practice the Blue Whale tasks. His friends suggested that he drink alcohol to garner courage before doing the tasks. He took their advice. When the hotel owner came to know this, he fired him from the job. By now he was addicted to alcohol. After this, his friends too left him, and he was practically alone.

He then made his way to Aluva in Ernakulam district. In desperation, he tried another task and held his breath under water, but he could not complete five minutes. He then ran around the Aluva railway station as many times as the task required him to practice. He then came to Kannur railway station, and took a train to Suratkal.

The locals noticed Wasim wandering around suspiciously and informed Suratkal police inspector Rafiq, who took him into custody. During interrogation, the police confirmed that Wasim was mentally disturbed. The police then informed Joseph Crasta, director of Snehalaya rehabilitation centre at Pavoor.

Joseph Crasta took him to Snehalaya, but there Wasim became violent and tried to break the window grills. He was immediately admitted to Yenepoya hospital, and after a week's treatment, Wasim turned normal and narrated his story. He also recalled his home address in his native town. He was brought back to Snehalaya, and on the basis of the information provided by him, his parents in Assam were contacted.

On Saturday October 28, Wasim's parents arrived at Snehalaya and after a heart-warming reunion, thanked Joseph Crasta and his team for saving their son and giving him a new lease of life. They will return to Assam with Wasim on Monday October 30.

Speaking exclusively to daijiworld, Wasim said, "I started practising the Blue Whale tasks but did not realize it would make me a slave to its commands. After every task I felt I had taken a risk, but somehow, I automatically decided to try more tasks. My friends who also became temporarily addicted to it forced me to practice the tasks. Now I understand how lucky I have been to have escaped from harm every time. I thank Suratkal police and Joseph Crasta for helping me."

Wasim's mother Aleema said, "A day before the last Eid (September first week), I spoke to my son via video calling. I felt he was leading a happy life in Kerala. But after Eid, we lost contact. We tried calling him several times on his mobile phone but there was no reply. A week ago, we received a call from Joseph Crasta informing about my son. Yesterday (Saturday) we came here to our son back home.

"We have two daughters who are elder to Wasim. My husband Noor-ul-Haq works in a footwear manufacturing company. We are grateful to Snehalaya, Yenepoya hospital and the police who rescued my son," she added.

Joseph Crasta told daijiworld, "Some days back, Suratkal police Inspector Rafiq informed me about Wasim. He was in an abnormal condition, so we brought him to our rehabilitation centre, after which we admitted him to Yenepoya hospital. He became normal after treatment and told us that the Blue Whale game pushed him into depression. We initially did not believe his statement. We gave him a mobile phone and asked him to download the game as proof. To our utter shock, he downloaded the game within minutes (Blue Whale challenge is not available for download in public platforms). We kept him under observation in hospital for five more days. He is now fit to go home. He gave us the contact details of his parents, and as per our instructions, they have come to take him back to Assam."

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