Dhamtari shocker: ‘Copycat’ trend behind mass arm-slashes by 35 schoolkids

Raipur: After 35 school-going children, including 12 girls, found with cut and slash marks on their arms in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district sent shockwaves across the state, a preliminary probe by the district administration has pointed to a possible "copycat syndrome" where students were "fascinated seeing each other slash their arms." Officials said these marks, which they found to be two to six weeks old, were of students of class 6-8 of the Government Middle School in remote Dahadaha village of Kurud block. While the principal was served a show cause notice on Thursday, counsellors have been rushed to the village to engage with children and parents amid concerns of peer imitation and stress. Initial findings do not indicate drug use or influence of superstition, black magic and online games based on "tasks." A minor boy told mediapersons that he had scratched his wrist because of stress at home and he knew others who did the same due to heartbreak. "They did it inside the school washroom. Many students have been doing it since months," he said. Dhamtari SP Suraj Singh Parihar said the joint probe team of police, district administration and officials of education and health departments found it to be possibly "copycat syndrome" rather than a coordinated act. "They had used pins and other stationary objects to scratch, but these are superficial injuries, and some are more than a year old." he said. Parihar added that their mobile phones were checked following inputs that a few children had scrolled tattoo-related content but nothing suspicious was found. "So far, no Korean games or online game angle has emerged," the SP said, adding that no complaints have been received, 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 tasks, though it hasn't been revealed in statements of students yet. Dhamtari collector Abhinash Mishra told TOI the matter surfaced after parents noticed marks and raised the issue with the school. "This came to light 15 days ago. The children might not have necessarily used blades. In many cases, they used safety pins. They seemed to have got fascinated seeing each other and repeated the act," 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 to interact with students and their families. The collector has also appealed to parents and schoolteachers to closely observe children's activities and behaviour patterns. Principal Punit Ram Sahu said the school learnt of the issue on Feb 13. "It began with one or two children making marks as a stunt, and others followed," he said.