Chhattisgarh School Incident: 35 Students Self-Harm, Collector Issues Notice
Chhattisgarh: 35 Students Self-Harm, Collector Acts

Chhattisgarh School Incident: 35 Students Found with Self-Inflicted Wrist Injuries

RAIPUR: A deeply concerning incident involving 35 school students has sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district. Authorities discovered that students from Classes 6 to 8 at the Government Middle School in remote Dahadaha village of Kurud block had bruised and cut their wrists, leading to immediate administrative action and psychological intervention.

Official Response and Investigation

Dhamtari Collector Abhinash Mishra confirmed that a show-cause notice has been issued to the school principal, Punit Ram Sahu, following the alarming discovery. "The matter came to light about 15 days back when parents noticed marks and raised the issue with the school," Mishra told media. He emphasized that counsellors have been dispatched to the village to engage with both children and their families, addressing what appears to be a disturbing pattern of peer imitation.

The collector has made a public appeal to parents and educational institutions to closely monitor children's activities and behavioral patterns. "They seemed to get fascinated seeing each other and repeated it," Mishra noted, describing the likely copycat nature of the incidents.

Nature and Timeline of Injuries

Official investigations reveal troubling details about the self-harm incidents:

  • The injuries are not recent, with most occurring between two weeks and several months ago
  • Some marks appear to be more than a year old according to police assessment
  • Students primarily used safety pins rather than blades for the superficial scratches
  • The acts occurred at various locations including school washrooms, homes, and village areas
  • Injuries were inflicted over different days rather than in a single coordinated event

Principal Sahu stated that the school first learned of the issue on February 13. "It began with one or two children making marks as a stunt, and others followed," he explained, confirming the imitation pattern observed by authorities.

Psychological Factors and Student Testimonies

One minor boy provided chilling insight into the motivations behind these acts. "I had scratched my wrist because of stress at home," he revealed to media. "I know other boys who did the same due to heartbreak. Many other students have been doing it since months."

Dhamtari SP Suraj Singh Parihar confirmed that the joint investigation team from police, administration, education, and health departments has identified this as a likely "copycat" pattern rather than any organized activity. "These are superficial injuries, not deep, and some are more than a year old," Parihar stated.

What Investigations Have Ruled Out

The comprehensive inquiry has eliminated several potential causes that initially raised concerns:

  1. No evidence of drug use or substance abuse was found during medical examinations
  2. No indications of superstition, black magic, or ritualistic practices emerged from investigations
  3. No connection to online games or challenges was established despite checking phones
  4. No criminal angle or formal complaints have been registered regarding the incidents
  5. No organized "task" or coordinated activity was discovered among the students

SP Parihar specifically addressed concerns about online influences: "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."

Ongoing Intervention and Preventive Measures

A multi-departmental team comprising the SDM, SDOP, tehsildar, police, education, and health officials has conducted thorough visits to both the village and school. Their preliminary findings confirm that:

  • The marks were primarily made 25-30 days ago, though some appear older
  • Children were influenced after seeing similar wrist marks on peers
  • Safety pins or occasional blades were used, but injuries remain superficial
  • Acts occurred at different times and various locations
  • Parents and teachers have received counselling about maintaining vigilance

Officials have suggested the possibility of a "truth and dare" type game where children challenge each other with such tasks, though this hasn't been confirmed in formal statements. The joint preliminary report by the SDM and SDOP has been submitted, and ongoing counselling sessions aim to address the psychological aspects of this distressing situation while preventing further incidents through awareness and supervision.