A 19-year-old medical aspirant, Ankita Suresh Sangle, has tragically died by suicide in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district after receiving a score of 166 in the NEET re-examination. This incident on Saturday afternoon further intensifies the national crisis surrounding alleged irregularities and paper leaks in the crucial medical entrance test.
Ankita, from Jalalpur village in Karjat taluka, was found by her family, her father Suresh Sangale informed local police. Karjat Police have registered a case of accidental death and are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances.
Mounting Stress Amidst Exam Irregularities
According to her father, Ankita had prepared diligently for the NEET examination. However, she had been under immense stress since reports of widespread irregularities and a paper leak first emerged. He stated that the unfolding crisis surrounding the exam had deeply affected her.
This tragic event echoes a similar incident involving Akanksha Chaturvedi, another NEET aspirant who died by suicide following the initial paper leak. Akanksha's family continues to demand accountability and justice. Her mother, Neelam Chaturvedi, expressed profound dissatisfaction with the government's response, including the resignation of the Education Minister. She emphasized that no measure could bring her daughter back and called for compensation and severe punishment for those responsible for the leak.
Government Response to the Crisis
The NEET-UG paper was initially leaked in May, prompting a re-examination on June 21st. The subsequent period has seen multiple alleged suicides by aspirants, igniting nationwide protests and a political storm.
On July 25th, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his position, citing the larger interests of students and aiming to prevent youth from being "trapped in a web of confusion." Union Minister JP Nadda has since announced that the government plans to provide suitable compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who have died by suicide in connection with the scandal.