NEET Aspirant Tragedy in Kota: Odisha Student Found Dead, Father Denies Suicide Claim

Kota (Rajasthan): A 24-year-old NEET-UG aspirant from Odisha was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his hostel room in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Kota, on Saturday. The deceased student, identified as Roshan Kumar Patra from Ganjam district in Odisha, had been residing in Kota for his NEET coaching for nearly a year.

According to police officials from Jawahar Nagar Police Station, the incident occurred around noon after Roshan failed to respond to repeated calls from his cousin and friends. When he did not open the door for lunch, the hostel warden used a duplicate key to enter the room — only to find Roshan lying unconscious on his bed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was called to the site to collect evidence, and an inquest is underway. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and the exact cause of death will be known once the autopsy report is released. Preliminary investigations revealed no suicide note from the spot.

Shockingly, Roshan’s father, Radhashyam Patra, has rejected the possibility of suicide. Speaking to reporters, he said, “My son spoke to me for over 40 minutes on video call the night before. He was happy and confident about the upcoming exam. My son would never take such a step.” The family suspects foul play and has urged both Rajasthan and Odisha Police to ensure a fair investigation.

Friends and fellow students living in the same hostel said Roshan had been preparing diligently for the exam and showed no signs of distress. A friend recalled that they had studied late into the previous night. “He was calm and cheerful. None of us noticed anything unusual,” one of them shared.

The tragic death has once again drawn attention to the rising stress and mental health issues among students in India’s coaching hub, Kota, where dozens of young aspirants from across the country come to prepare for competitive exams like NEET and JEE. Local authorities have reported multiple deaths among coaching students this year, prompting renewed calls for better mental health support and hostel supervision.

Authorities have registered a case under Section 174 of the CrPC and informed the student’s family in Odisha. The post-mortem will be conducted in the presence of relatives who are expected to reach Kota soon.