Jehanabad NEET Aspirant Death: Allegations of Sexual Assault, Police Lapses Trigger Statewide Outrage

Patna: The death of an 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Jehanabad in Patna has sparked nationwide outrage, intensifying political pressure on the Bihar government amid serious allegations of sexual assault, medical negligence, and police lapses.

The young student, who had come to Patna to prepare for the NEET examination with hopes of pursuing a medical career, was found unconscious in her room at a private hostel in the Chitragupt Nagar area earlier this month. She later died during treatment at a private hospital. Her family has consistently alleged that she was sexually assaulted and accused authorities of attempting to suppress the truth.

According to the victim’s parents, she was initially admitted to Sahaj Hospital, where she was treated by a former Indian Medical Association (IMA) patron and later referred to another medical facility. However, the hostel warden allegedly ignored the referral and instead took the girl to Prabhat Memorial Hospital in Rajendra Nagar. The family has levelled serious allegations of misconduct and negligence against the doctor at the hospital.

The parents have also accused Chitragupt Nagar SHO Roshni Kumari of gross negligence, claiming she did not visit the crime scene. They further alleged that even the SHO’s driver later revealed lapses in the initial handling of the case, raising questions about the police response.

Initially, Patna Police maintained that there was no evidence of sexual assault, citing preliminary medical findings that suggested the consumption of sleeping pills along with other complications. However, the stance changed after the medical board opinion from PMCH and the postmortem report. The report clearly stated that sexual violence cannot be ruled out and mentioned multiple blood clots and scratch marks on different parts of the victim’s body.

Following these findings, an FIR was registered based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family. Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar subsequently constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The owner of the private hostel where the student was staying has also been arrested.

The incident has triggered sharp political reactions across Bihar. Opposition parties have accused the state government of failing to ensure the safety of students residing in private hostels and have intensified their demand for a CBI inquiry into the matter.

Meanwhile, sustained public protests—particularly at Patna’s Kargil Chowk—have played a crucial role in keeping the case in the public eye. Youth activists Bhagwat Sharma, known for extending medical assistance and advocating for economically weaker students from the general category, and Purushottam Raj, a vocal voice on youth issues, have been at the forefront of the protests. Supporters say these youths performed the role that elected representatives are expected to play by forcing accountability through public pressure.

Many protesters argue that without such sustained demonstrations, the case might have met the same fate as several similar incidents where justice was allegedly denied. As investigations continue, public scrutiny remains intense, with growing demands for transparency, accountability, and justice for the deceased NEET aspirant.