Nearly 100 Mumbai students were in for a nasty shock when they arrived at Panchgani for a private 21-day 'commando' training camp. The camp promised to teach them survival skills, but the children had no idea how far the organisers would take it. Inept organisation, false advertisement claims, inhumane living conditions and downright mental and physical trauma quickly crushed the kids' spirit, some of whom reportedly contemplated suicide, just to escape the torment.

It was only when three participants managed to make a quick call to their parents that the truth was disclosed. A front-page report in this paper yesterday stated each participant had paid upwards of Rs 18,000, but were subjected to great torment. They were given no food on the long 12-hour journey to Panchgani, and when they arrived there, they found someone had defecated in the bathroom and were asked to clean it themselves.