Indian schools warned against ‘Momo’ challenge

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a national level board of education in India for public and private schools, has sent an advisory circular to all the Indian schools to take precautions against the threat of Momo challenge which most of the children are vulnerable to.

In the circular addressed to the schools based on the advisory of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), the Board has also provided measures to protect the children from the game.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked all schools affiliated to it to take precautions against an online game called ‘Momo Challenge’ which, like the Blue Whale Challenge, has a series of tasks to be completed — the final of which is to commit suicide.

“We have received the circular from the CBSE against the threat of Momo challenge which is another form of deadly blue whale challenge, and we have advised all our children and parents to take precautions after a report in Observer indicted the menace which is fast gripping the children”, a source at the Indian Schools in Oman said.

Just as the Blue Whale Challenge which had led to international concerns last year, Momo game has claimed young lives in different parts of the world but no such link has been found in Oman as of now, according to Oman Cert which looks after the IT scenario in Oman.

“In the Momo game, children are challenged to communicate with unknown numbers. The game consists of a variety of self-harming steps which become increasingly risky as the game progresses and it finally ends with a suicide challenge.

“It involves challenges that encourage teenagers/children/any other user to engage in a series of violent acts as part of the challenges,” the CBSE said in its circular.