Brazil team fan commits suicide in Kerala (Lead, Superseding earlier story)

WAYANAD - With passions running high in football-loving Kerala, a 23-year-old man, a fan of the Brazilian team, allegedly committed suicide in the state’s Wayanad district after his friends made fun of him, police said Monday.

“He committed suicide because he was teased by his friends while watching the football match last (Sunday) night,” a police officer said.

Gokul Das, an office bearer of the Congress in Wayanad, who lives close to the deceased, said: “Renjith along with several of his friends was watching the match between Argentina and Mexico at a sports club near Meppadi village. Soon after the second goal was scored by Argentina, a few of his friends made fun of him. Unable to bear it he stood up and said that he was going to commit suicide.”

“After he left the club, his friends called him on his mobile. Even though it was ringing, the call was not being answered. His friends then went looking for him and found him hanging from a tree,” said Das.

Renjith worked as a lorry cleaner.

“Since there is no complaint, no case has been registered against anyone, but a case of unnatural death has been registered,” a police officer said.