A 24-year-old man in Kasaragod, whose sister had earlier died by suicide as she was preparing for the NEET exam, was found dead in a hotel in Mangaluru, Karnataka, police said. This has led to a police investigation into what could be a possible cause of his death and is just weeks after the death of his sister Aija R Mahesh, a NEET aspirant from Kerala.
Arjun, the deceased, was found hanging in a room in the Sky Grand Empire Hotel of Maravoor, which falls under the jurisdiction of Kavoor Police Station. Police took note of a brief note from the hotel room after the incident, which was sent to his mother and two friends. The note said, “Amma, I’m sorry, inform friends.”
Police are investigating the circumstances that preceded Arjun’s death and trying to determine if an event or personal difficulty contributed to the incident. The contents of the note are also being examined as part of the investigation. His family, friends and anyone who had a connection with him before his death will be sought, said police.
Arjun was the elder brother of Aija R Mahesh, a NEET aspirant whose death in Kerala had earlier drawn attention to the intense emotional and academic pressure faced by students preparing for competitive examinations. Aija had reportedly been preparing for the re-conducted NEET examination after the earlier examination was cancelled following allegations of a question paper leak.
Sister Aija Died After Suicide Attempt at Kerala Hostel
Aija was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her hostel room on the afternoon of June 2. Fellow residents saw her and immediately notified hostel authorities. She was brought down and was apparently showing signs of life at the time.
Hostel staff rushed her to a private hospital in Arunapuram, where she received emergency medical treatment. She was then transferred to another private hospital in Cherpunkal for more advanced treatment and was put on ventilator support. She died on the afternoon of June 3.
According to reports, Aija had been preparing for the re-conducted NEET examination that was scheduled for June 21. The re-conducted test followed the cancellation of the earlier test due to allegations regarding a leak of question paper.
Aija had been under high emotional stress as part of a demanding coaching programme, said reports. She had discussed with her parents the difficulties she was having in her studies and the pressure to continue the preparation.
After the incident, her parents came to the hospital where police recorded their statements. Her body was later moved to the mortuary at Kottayam Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Police Probe Circumstances Behind Arjun’s Death
Arjun’s death has now added another tragic dimension to the family’s earlier loss. Police are investigating when he arrived at the Mangaluru hotel, who he might have contacted and what happened before he was found dead.
As well as hotel records and other evidence for the investigation, investigators will probably also look at what happened there too. The brief note found from the scene is considered a key piece of evidence but the police will be responsible for investigating reasons for the death.
The deaths have also revived questions about the emotional burden placed on students and families as they face extremely competitive entrance exams. NEET is one of India’s most competitive examinations with students often spending years preparing through intensive coaching programs. With changes to exam times, cancellations, re-examinations and uncertainty of results, it is not helpful for students who have already been doing so.
But police have not explicitly linked Arjun’s death to his sister’s earlier death or the NEET controversy. The investigation is ongoing and the real cause and reason of his death are yet to be determined.
A family has been devastated and in this case another big loss in a relatively short time. As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to piece together the events leading up to Arjun’s death and establish the facts behind the tragedy.
