12 NEET Aspirants Die by Suicide in 37 Days; Uddhav Thackeray Makes Emotional Appeal as Party Defections Mount
At least 12 students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) have died by suicide in the 37 days leading up to the re-examination, highlighting the severe mental health toll of the exam crisis. The deaths come amid allegations of a paper leak and subsequent re-test, which has left many aspirants anxious and fearful.
In Manipur, students from different ethnic communities described fears of ambush while travelling to examination centres. Some are being escorted under security cover at night to ensure their safety. The human cost of the exam crisis continues to grow as the re-examination approaches.
Separately, the political crisis within the Shiv Sena deepened on the party's founding day. Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, made an emotional appeal to his supporters, urging them to remain united. In response, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the breakaway faction, warned that the recent wave of defections from Uddhav's camp was 'just the trailer' of further exits to come.
On the international front, Iran has warned the United States of a 'heavy cost' if it continues to support Israel amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The warning came as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation remain stalled.
These developments are part of a larger landscape of crisis and political realignment that demands careful attention from policymakers and citizens alike.
