New year celebrations turned sour for a youth after his inebriated friend bit off his ear over a dispute during a game of badminton. After having gulped some beer during the New Year celebrations at Paravoor here yesterday, Krishna Kumar and Jinto, who are also neighbors, settled for a game of shuttle during which a quarrel broke out.

Jinto, in a fit of anger, bit the right ear of Kumar, police said. Though some friends immediately rushed Kumar, who was bleeding profusely, to a hospital with the snapped ear lobe, it could not be sutured back. Kumar has been admitted to a Specialist Hospital here. A case has been filed against Jinto, who is absconding after the incident, police said.