Bihar NEET Aspirant's Death Triggers Protests and Political Row
A tragic incident involving a 17-year-old NEET aspirant from Bihar has ignited widespread protests and a political controversy. The young student, who hailed from Jehanabad district, passed away under suspicious circumstances earlier this month. Her family firmly rejects the initial police theory of suicide, instead alleging foul play and demanding a thorough investigation.
Family Recalls Her Determination and Recent Visit Home
The victim had cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test on her very first attempt last year. She secured a seat in Bachelor of Dental Surgery but decided to forgo it. Her ambition was to become a doctor, and she missed an MBBS seat by a mere two marks. Determined to try again, she took a drop year and moved to Patna in late 2024 to focus on her preparations.
Her uncle shared poignant details about her recent visit home. During the festive season in late December, her mother visited her in Patna, bringing homemade food. The family then insisted she come home to Jehanabad for the New Year celebrations. She traveled home on December 26th and spent several days with her family.
"She was extremely focused on her studies," her uncle stated. "On January 4th, she told her mother she wanted to resume her preparations and return to Patna." Her parents accompanied her to Jehanabad Court railway station the next day. She boarded a train around 1 pm and reached Patna Junction by 3 pm. She spoke to her father around 9 pm that evening, confirming she had reached her hostel safely and mentioning she met another girl on the way.
Mysterious Circumstances and Hospitalization
Tragically, just a day later, she was found unconscious in her hostel room. The family believes she did not leave the hostel after arriving from the station, as there was no entry in the hostel register to suggest otherwise. She was initially taken to a local clinic, then transferred to a private hospital. As her condition worsened, her family moved her to another hospital. She died while undergoing treatment on January 11th.
Conflicting Reports and Family's Doubts
Police initially suspected suicide, citing the recovery of sleeping pills from her room and a urine report indicating their consumption. Patna City SP Parichay Kumar mentioned that a private gynaecologist found no evidence of sexual assault during the initial examination. He also stated that CCTV footage from the hostel did not indicate foul play.
The family strongly disputes these claims. "Police are saying she overdosed on sleeping pills. She wasn't even 18!" her uncle questioned. "She had no medical history and was not prescribed any medication. How could a minor obtain so many sleeping pills without a prescription?"
Her aunt added, "They claim she was depressed. She had cracked NEET earlier and was confident of securing an MBBS seat this time. She regularly sent photos with the family during her recent trip home. She did not look depressed at all."
Postmortem Findings and Hostel Questions
A postmortem report released last week introduced new complexities. It stated that "use of force" or "sexual violence" could not be ruled out. The family received this report late on Thursday, after waiting at the police station for hours.
The family also raised serious questions about the hostel's account. Hostel staff allegedly told them the room door had to be broken open. However, when relatives arrived, they saw no signs of forced entry. "They said the door had already been repaired. If so, why was there such a hurry to fix it? The room was cleaned. How could one do so in the middle of an investigation?" another uncle asked.
Protests and Political Reactions
Following her death, the family and supporters staged a protest in Patna, bringing her body to the area. Police dispersed the protesters using force and registered a separate case related to the demonstration. Expressing a lack of faith in the local police, the family has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
The incident has quickly become a political issue. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary assured that those involved would not be spared. "Police have already constituted a special investigation team to probe the incident. The DGP himself is monitoring the investigation," he told reporters.
Opposition leaders criticized the state government. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the Nitish Kumar administration of being "insensitive" and "patronising criminals". Independent MP Pappu Yadav also demanded a CBI probe, stating he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the matter.
Family's Personal Account and Allegations
The girl was the middle child in her family. Her father works as a lower-level government employee. "There were no problems at home. Why would she take her own life?" her aunt asked. "Her father always supported her. She was academically strong from the beginning."
In a heartbreaking detail, the family revealed she briefly regained consciousness on January 8th. "She was on a ventilator and could not speak, but when she saw her mother, tears rolled down her eyes," her aunt said. "When her mother asked if anything wrong had been done to her, she had nodded."
The family further accused the hostel operator and owner of attempting to portray the incident as a suicide. They alleged that "an offer of money was made to prevent the matter from being pursued". In response to the postmortem findings, police have arrested the hostel building owner, Manish Kumar Ranjan, and produced him before a court. They stated that further legal action would depend on evidence emerging during the investigation.
