BENGALURU: A suicide attempt by a 28-year-old man, suspected to have been influenced by the Blue Whale challenge, a killer game, was foiled by quick-thinking policemen of the High Grounds police station near the Windsor Manor bridge on Sunday. The man, identified as Ajay Kumar, a native of Bihar, has been in the city for about a year to prepare for management course entrance tests.
The entire drama unfolded over 20 minutes. Around 3.30pm, passersby who noticed Ajay climbing over the Windsor Manor bridge informed the police. Just at that time, High Grounds police inspector Lakshmikanth was heading to Palace Grounds to inspect security arrangements as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was to attend a marriage ceremony. As he was close to the bridge, he arrived there along with Assistant Sub-Inspector Subash Chandra and Head Constables Govindaraju and Srinivasmurthy. By then, the Fire and Emergency Services too had been alerted.
By the time they reached there, Ajay was perched precariously on the edge of the bridge. Lakshmikanth tried to convince him asking him to come over and promising to solve his problems. Ajay was seen shouting ‘Save me, mother’. Even as Lakshmikanth engaged Ajay in talk, other police officials gradually closed in on Ajay from the sides and grabbed him by the hand. After they rescued Ajay, they took him to NIMHANS where he is now being treated.
Why police suspect Blue Whale Challenge
WAS it the Blue Whale Challenge that drove a 28-year-old man to attempt to jump off the Windsor Manor bridge on Sunday afternoon? Police suspect it is so. The suicide attempt of Ajay Kumar (28), suspected to have been influenced by the Blue Whale challenge, was foiled by the police. Ajay, a native of Bihar, has been in the city for about a year to prepare for management course entrance tests. According to police sources, Ajay was mentally disturbed and had fresh cut wounds on his hand. Also, he had stopped using his mobile phone since three days and had kept it switched off, typical of instructions to those who take up the Blue Whale Challenge.
His family members also confirmed to police that his mobile was switched off for the last three days. Police said, “We talked to him, but he responded incoherently and sometimes tried to speak in a woman’s voice. He also said that he was mentally traumatised. He also gave us his father’s phone number and we have contacted the family and informed them. They have already started from their hometown in Madhubani district in Bihar and will be reaching Bengaluru by Monday.” Preliminary investigations revealed that Ajay is among the three children of Prasad who runs a grocery store. Police said that when they spoke to Prasad, he revealed that he has been sending money every month for Ajay’s expenses as he was preparing for tests. But his phone had been switched off for the last three days, Prasad told the police. Traffic on the international airport road was disrupted for a while as people got off their vehicles to witness the unfolding drama. High Grounds police have registered a case and further investigations are under way.