A total of 40 students at Mota Munjiyasar Primary School in Gujarat’s Amreli district injured themselves after a classmate encouraged them to cut their hands in exchange for money.
According to a report, a seventh-grade student from Bagasara instigated the incident by offering his classmates Rs 10 to cut their hands with a pencil sharpener blade. He further claimed that those who refused would owe him Rs 5. This led to multiple children harming themselves.
The village sarpanch and concerned parents lodged a complaint, prompting the Bagasara Police to initiate an investigation. Sub-Inspector of Bagasara Police stated that inquiries would commence once the school reopened.
The principal of Mota Munjiyasar Primary School, Makwana, acknowledged the incident and expressed concern. “The students were imitating a video game when they injured themselves. Following the discovery, school authorities held a meeting with parents to address the matter and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences,” he said.
The sarpanch has called for police action against those responsible for the incident.
While there are reports that the act might be linked to an online challenge resembling the Blue Whale Challenge, which gained immense popularity in 2017, officials have not confirmed any connection.
Amreli District Education Officer Kishorbhai Mayani stated that a thorough investigation would be conducted. The probe will involve questioning teachers, students, and parents to ascertain how the injuries occurred and whether appropriate supervision was in place.
State Education Minister Praful Pansheriya commented on the situation, clarifying that the number of affected students was around 10 to 12, not 40 as initially reported.
He referred to the incident as a serious concern and a warning for both government and private schools.
Pansheriya called for a detailed report and highlighted the need for guidelines to address the influence of violent games and harmful activities on children.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has also been monitoring the issue and considering preventive measures.
Amreli ASP Jayveer Gadhvi stated that there was no evidence suggesting the involvement of video games or mobile phones in the incident. “The children were participating in a dare game where they wagered Rs 10 on whether one could harm themselves using a blade. The blades were from pencil sharpeners rather than being store-bought,” Gadhvi said.
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