‘Upset over not getting more social media followers’, 21-year-old ends life in Surat: Police

According to the Olpad police, Patel had over 7000 followers on his social media account.

The incident took place Thursday when Patel allegedly consumed poison near the cricket ground of his house, said the police. A passerby found him lying on the ground and informed his family and the villagers, said the police. He was rushed to New Civil Hospital and was admitted to the ICU ward, said police, he passed away on Friday.

After learning about the incident, officers from the Olpad police station also reached the hospital and took the victim’s details from his father, Ishwar Patel, an auto driver by profession.

Sources said that Ishwar, in his statement to the police, said that his “son was a fitness freak and used to make reels to upload them on social media platforms to get more attention and followers”.  Prateek was the youngest among three siblings, said the police.

“He was heartbroken after he did not get more followers and was depressed for the last few days,” the police said quoting the victim’s father.

Head Constable Nitesh Chauhan, from Olpad police station, said, “We have checked his social media account and found that he had made 376 reels and had 7923 followers (to date). He was also working as a ward boy on contractual basis with Surat Municipal Corporation since last year.”

“According to his family members, he was under depression as he was not getting more attention in terms of followers on his social media account due to which he took the extreme step. A probe into the matter is underway,” said Chauhan.