Three NEET aspirants in Tamil Nadu have died by suicide over the past four days, sparking widespread outrage and calls for the state to be exempted from the national medical entrance test. The deaths were reported from Salem, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri districts, with the victims identified as S Gopika, 19, R Roshini, 19, and C Vetri Anandan, 20. The Indian Express had previously reported that at least 12 NEET aspirants had died by suicide in different parts of the country since May 3. The NEET exam was originally held on May 3 but was subsequently cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak, and the re-test was held on Sunday, June 21.
The rising stress ahead of the re-test has been cited as a major factor in the recent deaths. Gopika, who had been preparing for NEET for two years, was found unconscious after a suspected suicide attempt on Friday afternoon. She had earlier told her father that she was under severe stress due to the growing difficulty of preparing for the exam, and the announcement of the re-test had increased her anxiety.
In Dharmapuri, Roshini, who had studied at a NEET coaching centre in Namakkal, was found dead by her father on Saturday evening. Police said they were investigating the case and had not yet confirmed whether exam pressure was a factor. In Krishnagiri, Vetri Anandan, who had been preparing from home after failing to clear the exam in earlier attempts, died by suicide on Saturday afternoon. He had left a note stating that he had been unable to sleep properly for a month due to fear over NEET and feared failing again.
The deaths have triggered sharp criticism from political parties in Tamil Nadu. The DMK students’ wing has announced plans to hold a protest on Tuesday, accusing the BJP government at the Centre of being responsible for the continuing distress around NEET. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has called for NEET to be abolished across India or for Tamil Nadu to be exempted, while VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan has urged the Tamil Nadu government to take legal steps to secure an exemption for the state.
