NEET pressure turns deadly: Youngster amputates own foot for disability quota
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Lucknow: In a disturbing incident from eastern Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district, a 24-year-old man allegedly amputated part of his own left foot in an attempt to obtain a disability certificate and secure admission to an MBBS course through reservations linked to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The case has left police officials stunned and raised troubling questions about the extreme pressures surrounding medical admissions in the country.
The youth, identified as Suraj Bhaskar, a resident of Khalipur under the Line Bazar police station limits, had completed a Diploma in Pharmacy and was preparing to appear for NEET. The incident took place on January 18, but came to light on Friday after police began probing what was initially reported as a case of violent assault.
According to police, Suraj had approached the authorities claiming that unknown assailants had attacked him during the night, leaving him unconscious and resulting in the amputation of his left foot, with only the heel remaining. Acting on his statement and a written complaint, police registered a case of attempted murder against unidentified persons and launched an investigation.
However, investigators soon noticed glaring inconsistencies in Suraj’s account. “The victim kept changing his statement and tried to mislead the police,” said Circle Officer (City) Goldie Gupta. The shifting versions raised suspicion, prompting officers to dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding the injury.
A detailed probe, including analysis of call detail records, revealed that no one had visited Suraj on the night he claimed to have been assaulted. Police also discovered that he was in a relationship with a woman and planning to get married, and that he was determined to gain admission to an MBBS course in 2026 “at any cost”, as per officials familiar with the investigation.
During questioning of the woman he was in relationship with, police learned that Suraj had earlier travelled to Banaras Hindu University in October to try to obtain disability-related documentation, an attempt that did not succeed. Investigators believe this failure may have pushed him towards an extreme and desperate act.
Medical examination and forensic assessment suggested that the foot had been severed cleanly, likely using a machine rather than a sharp weapon. Police also found injections near the under-construction house where Suraj was staying, indicating possible use of anaesthesia. Given his pharmacy background, officers believe he had the knowledge to administer injections to himself before carrying out the act.
Despite extensive searches, the severed portion of the foot could not be recovered. Police also found a personal diary in which Suraj reportedly wrote daily goals. Entries indicated a clear fixation on securing MBBS admission in 2026. Officials said he had also filled out marriage registration forms, suggesting plans for the future that he feared might collapse without a medical seat.
According to the police, Suraj first tried calling family members around 5 am after the incident, but received no response. He then contacted a relative, who alerted the family. He was initially taken to the district hospital and later shifted to a trauma centre for advanced treatment. His condition is stated to be stable.
Police said Suraj’s statement would be formally recorded once he is discharged, and appropriate legal action will follow, including proceedings for filing a false complaint and misleading investigators.
Beyond the criminal aspects, the incident has sparked a wider debate. This is a grim reflection of a system where competition for medical seats has become so ruthless that a young man felt compelled to permanently disable himself to improve his chances. The case has underscored the intense societal pressure, scarcity of opportunities, and desperation that continue to surround MBBS admissions in India, raising uncomfortable questions about access, equity and the human cost of the race for a medical degree.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
