‘He thought he had finally cracked NEET’: 21-year-old aspirant hangs himself after paper leak shock

The NEET-UG paper leak controversy took a tragic turn in Uttar Pradesh after a 21-year-old medical aspirant allegedly died by suicide, unable to cope with the uncertainty and emotional stress triggered by the cancellation of the examination.

The deceased, identified as Hrithik Mishra from Lakhimpur Kheri district, was preparing for the highly competitive NEET-UG examination for the past several years.

According to family members, this was his third attempt at cracking the medical entrance test, and he was finally confident of securing a seat this year after performing exceptionally well in the exam.

However, the alleged question paper leak scandal and the subsequent cancellation of the examination reportedly left the young aspirant devastated. Hrithik’s body was found hanging inside his room on Thursday morning, sending shockwaves through the local community and reigniting concerns over the mounting mental pressure faced by students preparing for competitive examinations.

His father claimed that Hrithik had been mentally disturbed ever since reports of the paper leak surfaced and discussions around a possible re-examination intensified.

Family members said he had invested years of hard work, sacrifice, and hope into clearing NEET and was deeply shattered by the uncertainty surrounding the exam process.

Friends of the deceased also revealed that many aspirants had been struggling with anxiety and frustration after the controversy erupted.

Several students reportedly feared losing another year of preparation if the examination were conducted again.

The tragedy comes amid growing outrage across the country over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination process.

The issue has now snowballed into a major political flashpoint, with opposition leaders attacking the Centre over the handling of the examination system and student welfare.

The controversy deepened further after reports emerged earlier this week about another NEET aspirant allegedly dying by suicide in Goa.

While investigators have not yet established any direct link between that incident and the exam controversy, the back-to-back deaths have intensified public concern.

The investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak case is currently being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

While authorities have confirmed the cancellation of the examination, the fresh exam schedule is yet to be announced, leaving lakhs of students across the country in a state of anxiety and uncertainty.

Mental health experts and educators have urged authorities to take swift and transparent decisions, warning that prolonged uncertainty could severely impact students already dealing with immense academic pressure.

(Suicide Is Not A Solution: If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you are worried about a friend, or you need emotional support, then there is someone who is always there to listen to you. Call the Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences helpline at 9152987821 (available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm).