KOCHI: Finding that youths are being recruited into terrorist organizations on the model of the online game 'Blue Whale' where they are given various tasks that eventually lead to their suicide. Following the same model, those who complete terrorist tasks are assigned to subversive propaganda and suicide attacks.

The activity is through YouTube and Telegram channels. An investigating officer revealed that the first task is to write down terrorist ideas in public places, as a sign or picture. A photo of this should be sent to the team. Then comes the next task. The recruiting will be complete once the team is convinced that the person is trustworthy after he completes all the tasks. Several such channels have been shut down by counter-terrorism forces, following the crucial revelation of the accused arrested in sedition cases recently.

Anti-national organizations have turned to this method of recruitment after widespread searches and continuous arrests. First, they will spread terrorist ideas through social media. Those who show solidarity through comments will be monitored. Entry to even the first stage will be allowed only after a thorough investigation about them. Tasks are given to those who express their desire to work with the movement. Details of the tasks were not disclosed.

Blue Whale

The brainchild of the Blue Whale game is Philipp Budeikin (22), a psychology student who was expelled from a Russian university in 2013. The game had 50 tasks that had to be completed in 50 days. Each step involved tasks like posting pictures of cuts on hands and private parts. The last step was to put the game players to kill themselves. Philipp was sentenced to prison when 17 Russian girls killed themselves by playing the death game. This game was banned even in India after many people committed suicide.

Lone Wolf

It has also been found that there are those who plan attacks on their own (lone wolf). They are influenced by extremist discourses and videos on social media. The Lone Wolf model is to go into a crowd alone with a weapon and carry out a series of attacks. The NIA found that Jamesha Mubin, who was killed in the Coimbatore blast, was a botched suicide attack.