Patna: A 17-year-old student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) was found dead in her hostel room in Patna on Tuesday, police said.
The deceased, identified as Shruti Kumari, was a resident of Samastipur district and had been living at a hostel in the city’s Sachivalay Colony area while preparing for the medical entrance examination.
According to police, her body was discovered hanging inside a room at Radhe Krishna Hostel, located under the jurisdiction of the Patrakar Nagar police station.
Student Found After Roommates Raised Alarm
Students staying in adjacent rooms alerted hostel authorities after Shruti was not seen throughout the morning.
Anshu, a student residing nearby, said repeated knocks on the door went unanswered. “When we pushed the door, it opened and we found her hanging inside the room,” she said.
Police were informed immediately and reached the spot to begin an investigation.
Had Returned To Hostel Recently
Hostel owner Abha Singh said Shruti had been staying at the facility since 2024 while preparing for NEET.
According to Singh, the student had completed her course and returned to her village before coming back to Patna around 10 days ago. “She was very quiet by nature. She had dinner on Monday night and went to her room afterwards,” Singh said.
She added that Shruti had spoken to a friend shortly before the incident and appeared emotionally distressed.
According to the hostel owner, the student had reportedly told her friend that she felt isolated and that even her parents were not speaking to her.
Family Raises Concerns About Harassment
A relative of the deceased claimed that a young man had allegedly been harassing Shruti for some time.
The allegation has not been independently verified, and police have not yet made any official statement regarding the claim.
Amarendra Kumar Karna, a relative of the student, said the family became aware of the incident after receiving multiple phone calls on Tuesday morning. He said Shruti’s mother is a teacher and her father a farmer.
“After arriving here, we heard that a boy had been troubling her repeatedly,” Karna said.
Investigation Underway
Police have launched an investigation into the case and are examining all possible angles. A forensic science laboratory (FSL) team has been called to assist with the inquiry.
Officials said evidence is being collected from the hostel room and statements are being recorded from hostel residents, staff members and relatives. Police have not yet disclosed whether any note was recovered from the scene.
The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, and further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
(If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050, Tele Manas – 14416 (available 24×7) or Call, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
