NEET aspirant from Bihar dies by suicide in Kota hostel; ninth incident this year

NEW DELHI: A 17-year-old medical aspirant allegedly hanged himself from an iron rod in his hostel room in Kota’s Jawahar Nagar area on Tuesday, police said. This is the ninth case of suspected suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January. Harshraj Shankar, a native of Bihar’s Nalanda district, had been preparing for the medical entrance exam in a coaching institute here since April last year, they said.

After being informed by the hostel caretaker that this afternoon that the boy had bolted the door from inside and was not responding, a police team reached the spot, Jawahar Nagar SHO Ramlaxman. The team broke open the room door and found the boy hanging to an iron rod, he added. The ceiling fan in the hostel room was equipped with “anti-suicide devise”. So, the NEET aspirant arranged an iron rod to hang himself, the police said.

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No suicide note was recovered from the spot, the SHO said, adding that the body has been shifted to the mortuary of a hospital and a post-mortem would be conducted after the arrival of his parents who have been informed. A probe is underway. This is the ninth student suicide this year that took place in the city famous for its being a coaching hub. Six coaching students -- five JEE, one NEET -- killed themselves in January alone. Seventeen coaching students died by suicide in Kota in 2024. In 2023, the number stood at 26.

If you know someone – friend or family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. Those in distress or having suicidal thoughts or tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling 9820466726 or visiting AASRA’s official website or can call iCALL on 9152987821. Here are some more helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.