Patna, Bihar: A 17-year-old medical student hanged himself using an iron rod in his hostel room in Kota’s Jawahar Nagar area on Tuesday, police reported. This incident marks the ninth suspected suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January. The student, Harshraj Shankar, a resident of Bihar’s Nalanda district, had been attending a coaching institute to prepare for medical entrance exams since April last year.
Jawahar Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Ram Laxman stated that the hostel caretaker alerted the police after the student locked his door from the inside and failed to respond. Upon arriving, the police broke open the door and discovered the student hanging from an iron rod. Investigations revealed that “suicide prevention devices” were installed on ceiling fans in the hostel, prompting the NEET aspirant to use an iron rod instead.
The police found no suicide note at the scene. The body has been moved to the hospital mortuary, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted upon the arrival of the student’s parents. Authorities are actively investigating the case.
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Kota, renowned as a coaching hub, has witnessed a concerning rise in student suicides. This year alone, nine students have taken their lives, with six cases reported in January. In 2024, the total number of student suicides reached 17, while in 2023, the figure stood at 26.
