A 19-year-old student from Coimbatore who had been preparing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) died by suicide on Wednesday, with family members saying she had been under severe stress following the cancellation of the examination and the announcement of a re-test. The student, identified as Anukeerthana from Kovaipudur, had long aspired to become a doctor and had been preparing intensively for the medical entrance examination.
According to relatives, Anukeerthana had performed well academically and was hopeful of securing admission to a medical college. However, the decision to cancel the earlier NEET examination over alleged irregularities and conduct a fresh test on June 21 reportedly left her distressed and anxious about her future prospects.
Before her death, the student sent an emotional WhatsApp message to close relatives in which she expressed fear about taking the examination again and concern over the financial sacrifices made by her family to support her education. Alarmed by the message, relatives rushed to her home and immediately sought medical assistance. She was admitted to a private hospital and received treatment, but later succumbed.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. The student’s mobile phone has been seized as part of the inquiry, and her body was sent for a postmortem examination at the Government ESI Medical College Hospital.
The incident triggered protests by members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and student supporters, who gathered at the hospital demanding the abolition of NEET. Protesters stated that Anukeerthana had already qualified for a BDS seat and was preparing to secure admission to an MBBS programme. Family members initially declined to accept the body and demanded accountability from the Union government over the handling of the examination process. They later accepted the body after discussions with revenue officials.
The tragic incident has once again reignited debate over the pressure associated with competitive entrance examinations and the impact of examination-related uncertainty on students’ mental well-being.
