Bomb hoax: Caller a Blue Whale addict

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, December 26

The youth who spread rumours of a bomb at the Mandi bus stand turned out to be a Blue Whale game addict. He is in police custody.

On December 21, around 10.13 am, accused Sandeep Singh (21), a resident of Balh in Mandi district, made a call to the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) authorities saying there was a bomb there.

This caused panic and the police vacated the bus stand within minutes.

Addressing a press conference here today, SP Ashok Kumar said it was learnt that the accused was a Blue Whale game addict and the bomb threat was part of game’s challenge. The SP said the accused was in trauma and it couldn’t be said with certainty that the act had something to do with the game.

An MCA student, the youth is an alcoholic. As soon as he started playing the game, his behaviour changed, his family said. He would often pick up fights with them.

“The day he spread the bomb rumour, he was upset and his mother was not at home. He called her, but she did not take the call. He thought his mother was going to her paternal home which is why he made a hoax call,” the SP stated.

The SP asked the youth’s parents to observe any behavioural changes in him. As many as 131 deaths have been reported due to Blue Whale challenge.