CPI(M) cadre staging a protest against NEET and seeking justice for Anu Keerthana in front of the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital in Coimbatore on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN
A medical aspirant from Coimbatore ended her life early on Wednesday. She was reportedly under pressure over attending the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21. Police said that S. Anu Keerthana (19), a resident of Kovaipudur in Coimbatore, took the extreme step at her residence.Sources said that Keerthana sent a message to her father’s younger brother on WhatsApp early on Wednesday, before attempting to end her life. Family members immediately checked on her after being alerted by him. She was found in a life-threatening condition and was rushed to a private hospital in the city. She died without responding to treatment around 11 a.m., following which the body was shifted to the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital, Coimbatore, for post-mortem examination.CPI(M) cadre staging a protest in front of the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital in #Coimbatore, condemning the Union government over the conduct of #NEET. @THChennaipic.twitter.com/5zaaEfFRdX— Wilson Thomas (@wilson__thomas) June 17, 2026Sources said that Keerthana, who aspired to become a doctor, had written NEET (UG) in 2025 and the one held on May 3 this year, which was cancelled over a paper leak. They said that she was hopeful of clearing the May 3 test, scoring the mark required to secure an MBBS seat. However, she was reportedly under a state of depression after the test got cancelled and a re-examination was announced.Meanwhile, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a protest in front of the hospital on Wednesday evening, condemning the Union government over irregularities in the conduct of NEET. The protestors raised slogans against Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and alleged that NEET coaching centres were exploiting thousands of medical aspirants.They demanded that NEET be scrapped to save the lives of innocent students. They vacated after senior police officers and Revenue officials held talks with them and the father of the girl.Keethana’s father, Senthil Prabhu, who is the district secretary of the association of Tasmac employees affiliated to the CITU, said death by suicide due to the pressure over NEET should end with that of his daughter. The Kuniyamuthur police have launched an investigation.(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050). Published - June 17, 2026 07:29 pm IST
