Another young life has been lost in Kota, Rajasthan, as a 20-year-old student, on the cusp of realizing his dreams, succumbed to the immense pressure of competitive exams and chose to end his life. The victim, a resident of Rohtak district in Haryana, was preparing for the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) in hopes of securing admission in undergraduate medical courses. 

The tragedy unfolded on Sunday night when the student’s lifeless body was discovered in his hostel room by authorities. According to Kunhadi station house officer (SHO), Arvind Bharadwaj, the student had not responded to repeated attempts by his parents and hostel warden to contact him. After numerous failed attempts, the police were alerted, and upon breaking open the door, they found the student’s lifeless body. 

While the initial investigation points towards suicide, with no suicide note recovered from the scene, the victim’s family members have raised suspicions of foul play. They allege that the deep cut on the victim’s neck indicates a possibility of murder, contrary to the authorities’ claims of suicide. The family demands a thorough investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to uncover the truth behind the tragic demise of their loved one. 

This incident adds to the grim tally of suicides among students in Kota, with this being the eighth such incident reported this year alone. It sheds light on the immense mental and emotional toll that the rigorous demands of competitive exams impose on young minds. As investigations continue, questions regarding the hostel’s adherence to safety guidelines and concerns over student welfare in coaching hubs like Kota come to the forefront, urging authorities to address the underlying issues contributing to such tragic outcomes.