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The body of an Argentina fan, who left a suicide note after the team lost against Croatia, was found in the Meenachil river in Illickal, Kottayam district on Sunday. Thirty-year-old Dinu Alex, a die hard fan of Argentina, was disappointed after Argentina lost against Croatia (3-0) in the World Cup match.
"A body had been found in Meenachil in Illackil and it has been verified as Dinu's," Aiyarkkunnam Sub Inspector Anil Kumar VS told TNM.
Dinu reportedly walked out of his house sometime before 5 am on 22 June, and had been missing since then. His suicide note informed his family that he was ending his life because Argentina had lost the match. His family says, Dinu was scared his friends and others would mock him.
Following his disappearance, five fire force officers and several local residents searched the entire length of the Meenachil river that flows behind his house in Arumannoor. However, the search operation had to be put on hold due to heavy rain in the region on Thursday. The search operation was later extended to Illickal.
According to reports, Alex’s family identified his body from the gold chain he was wearing.
Sub Inspector Kumar VS told TNM that a police dog who was brought to the house went straight to the river, raising suspicion that Alex may have jumped into the river.
According to the police, Alex watched the football match late into the night. When his mother woke up after 5 am, she was unable to find him in the house.
“She used to wake him up at 5 am every day. That day, she did not find him in his room, but found a note which said nobody was responsible for his death,” the police said.
Even as circumstances indicate that Alex was dejected at his favourite team losing the match and left home because of it, the police is looking into all possible angles.
A close relative of Alex told IANS that he was a hardcore Messi fan and his mobile phone wallpaper had a picture of Messi.
"Yesterday, he purchased a T-shirt like the one worn by Messi and sat down to watch the match," the relative recalled.
(This story was first published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
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