Momo Challenge: Cops counsel Class-X boy

TNN | Aug 24, 2018 | KHARAGPUR: Days after a college student from Jalpaiguri went to cops to report an invite to the deadly Momo game, cops in West Midnapore’s Daspur went to the home of a Class-X student, who had installed the game in his phone and counselled him on the perils of attempting to play the game.

The student from a school, located around 15 km from Ghatal town, had received a message with a link to the challenge on August 16. Curious, the Class-X student, clicked on the link and downloaded it.

Thereafter, he completed two levels before turning weary. He then attempted to uninstall the game on his phone but did not succeed.

“Everytime I uninstalled the app, it would mysteriously reappear. I even formatted the phone twice but was unable to get rid of it,” said the student.

Scared, he finally informed his parents about the game on August 22. On Thursday, police promptly arrived at the family’s doorstep on learning about the issue. SP Alok Rajoria said he was aware of the incident. “We are trying to ensure the boy is not in the influence of the game,” he said.

The West Bengal police along with CID has asked all people, who have received invite for the game on their phone, to immediately contact cops without trying to play the game. The police warning came after a Jalpaiguri college student received a WhatsApp message inviting her to join the game. Frightened, she had blocked the number from which the message had come and went to police the next day.

“We have initiated a probe. Our cybercell is investigating the matter,” said Biswasroy Sarkar, IC, Kotwali police station.

In connection to the case, another first-year college student was detained by cybercell sleuths and being interrogated for any possible links.

On Thursday, the suicide of a Class XII student in Kurseong was initially linked to the challenge but police later clarified it was a rumour. Manish Sarki 18, a student of St. Alphonsus school, was found hanging inside a pig sty located near St. Mary’s Hill, in the outer fringes of the town area.