An 18-year-old student from Tirunelveli district killed himself on Wednesday morning, leaving behind a suicide note that blames his father's alcoholism for his decision.
Dinesh, who hails from Sankarankovil, was found hanging from a railway bridge by passers-by at Vannarpettai, an hour away from his home.
The teenager who was preparing for the NEET exam and was set to appear for it on 6 May.
"Appa, this is Dinesh writing this letter. You should not drink after I die. You should not light my pyre, because you drink. You don't shave your head. To put it openly, you don't do my last rites. This is my wish. Only then my soul will rest in peace," reads the young man's suicide note.
Stop drinking at least now Appa. This is my wish. Only then I will be at peace.Excerpt from the suicide note, as reported by The News Minute
He also sends out a message to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami. "Let us see if the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister shuts down alcohol outlets at least now. If he doesn't, my spirit will come back to do it," he writes.
Dinesh's family members say that the father, Madasamy, was a daily wage worker and an alcoholic. He had lost his mother at a young age.
The medical aspirant would constantly plead with his father to give up alcohol, his family says. According to reports, Dinesh studied in Namakkal district, away from his family, after the 10th standard.
He was a very bright student and scored 464 out of 500 in his 10th standard. He wanted to become a doctor and even got the hall ticket for the NEET exam.Dinesh’s uncle told The News Minute
"He told us he was going to his grandmother's house and left. He never showed us any signs of considering suicide," he added.
Police officials in the district are currently investigating his death.
The demand for alcohol prohibition has been loud and strong in Tamil Nadu. Women and children have come out in large numbers in the past year to protest against TASMAC outlets.
(This article has been published in association with The News Minute)
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