Police have been instructed to conduct frequent checks at cyber cafes and their computer systems for availability of any link/website (from internet search history) pertaining to various online games such as Blue Whale Challenge, A Quiet House, A Silent House, A Sea of Whales, Wake Me Up at 4:20 am, and take immediate steps to remove those links and reformat the computer systems
DEEPCHAND BIHARI, OP
BHUBANESWAR: There is considerable worry among parents after reports appeared this week that two students from a city-based government high school and an English medium school were suspected of playing the life-threatening Blue Whale game. The hands of these students were spotted with signs of blade-cuts. The police have not confirmed any link to the BW game, but school authorities are on the alert and the guardians are worried. As the game posed a global threat, city-based English medium schools are organising several awareness sessions on their respective campuses. Government schools here have also taken similar steps. However, the school authorities derive some comfort from the fact that these students cannot be victims of this game, as they belong to the poor sections of the society and might not have any access to internet and deadly games.
Headmistress of Capital High school, Unit-III, Sonamika Ray told Orissa Post that these students did not use smart phones.
“They are from poor families,” she said. “As soon as we knew of the dangers of blue whale game, we started awareness speeches during prayer sessions at the school. This apart, an NGO, Ladies Forum Club, is also taking the initiative to make our students know about the dangers of the game.” The school has also invited a
psychiatrist to counsel the students. “We don’t allow students to access internet in our school premises unless they are attending a computer class. A teacher has been assigned to keep an eye on students, as we don’t want to take any risk,” added Ray. Usha Rani Patnaik, who has taken temporary charge as headmistress in the Government Boys
High School, Unit-I, stated that 90 per cent of students in government schools are from the backward communities. They do not use smart phones. Still, it is a threat to students who use internet. “We don’t allow students come to school with mobile phones. In addition, we advised them not use any kind of websites which is unknown and asked them not to play games.” With an aim to save students from Blue Whale game, the Orissa Police has issued guidelines for cops, parents and teachers to be on the alert and combat the menace.
All police stations have been instructed to conduct meetings in schools and colleges to spread awareness about dangers of some computer games. Also, principals and headmasters have been urged to hold parent-teacher meetings to sensitise parents and launch an awareness campaign among the students in their educational institutions.
Moreover, the police have been instructed to conduct frequent checks at cyber cafes and their computer systems for availability of any link/website (from internet search history) pertaining to various online games like Blue Whale Challenge, A Quiet House, A Silent House, A Sea of Whales, Wake Me Up at 4:20 am, and take immediate steps to remove those links and reformat the computer systems. Meanwhile, some teachers alleged that the media is giving undue publicity to the game and sensationalising matters, and this could lead to a situation in which more and more students will likely take an interest in the deadly game. Rabindra Kumar Kasta, a teacher at a government high school, said, “The media is promoting the game by highlighting the matter day after day. So, even those who had no idea about this are now searching online for the site to know what it is all about.” However, Rabindra stated that students are not allowed with mobiles phones inside the school campus.
Police
