Chhattisgarh shocker: Mass wrist-cutting by 35 schoolkids, probe flags ‘imitation' trend; Counsellors on job

RAIPUR: After the shocking incident of 35 school students bruising and cutting their wrists became a sensation across Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district, the collector has issued a show-cause notice to the principal of a govt middle school, while counsellors have been sent to village to engage with children and parents amid concerns of peer imitation and stress.The case pertains to the Government Middle School in remote Dahadaha village of Kurud block, where students of Classes 6 to 8 were found with scratched wrists and multiple cut marks. Officials said the injuries are not recent and appear to be between two weeks and up to a few months old. The initial findings do not indicate any drug use, superstition, black magic or an online “task” angle. The children may not necessarily have used blades; in many cases, they used safety pins.Officials said the group includes 35 children, including 12 girls, and the injuries were inflicted over different days.One such minor boy told the media that he had scratched his wrist because of stress at home, he knows other boys who did the same due to heartbreak. "They did it inside school washroom or in village. Many other students have been doing it since months," he said.Dhamtari collector Abhinash Mishra told TOI the matter surfaced after parents noticed marks and raised the issue with the school. “It is a matter, that came to light 15 days back. The children may not necessarily have used blades; in many cases, they used safety pins. They seemed to get fascinated seeing each other and repeated it,” Mishra said, stating that a show-cause notice has been served to the principal. He added that a joint preliminary report by the SDM and SDOP has been submitted and counsellors are being sent to the village for detailed interaction with students and families. The collector has also appealed the parents and schools to closely observe children's activities and behaviour patterns.Collector Mishra said a probe and counselling team was dispatched after the school alerted authorities, and statements of students and parents were recorded by probe team. Dhamtari SP Suraj Singh Parihar said the joint probe team of police, administration, education and health found it as a likely “copycat” pattern rather than a coordinated act. “They had used pins and other stationary objects to scratch, but these are superficial injuries, not deep, and some are more than a year old.” he said. The SP added that phones were checked after inputs that a few children were scrolling tattoo-related content but nothing suspicious was found. "So far, no Korean games or online game angle has emerged while counselling of guardian and students was being done,” SP said, adding that no complaints have been received yet and no criminal angle has been found. Officials said that it could also be a 'truth and dare' game where children dare each other with such tasks, though it hasn't come out in statements yet. Principal Punit Ram Sahu said the school learnt of the issue on February 13. “It began with one or two children making marks as a stunt, and others followed,” he said.A joint team comprising the SDM, SDOP, tehsildar, police, education and health departments has visited the village and school. Preliminary findings of the official inquiryThe marks were made 25–30 days ago, though some appear older.Children were influenced after seeing similar wrist marks on others and imitated the behaviour.Safety pins or blades were used, but injuries are not deep.Acts occurred at different times and places, school, home or village.No signs of substance abuse found during inquiry.No evidence of online game addiction after phone checks.Parents and teachers have been counselled to maintain vigilance.