Students stage a relay hunger strike over the NEET paper leak, in Hyderabad last month.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
Nearly two months after the death of an 18-year-old NEET aspirant, her parents have come forward publicly, calling for the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and an overhaul of the medical entrance exam system.
Juveriya, a resident of Moula Ali in Malkajgiri, allegedly died by suicide at her home on June 15, shortly after completing a practice test her sister Aisha had handed her before leaving for college.
Juveriya and Aisha were both achievers, scoring 974 and 984 out of 1,000, respectively, in Intermediate Bi.P.C. For their academic performance, the sisters received scholarships of ₹15,000 each from the State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation. In the NEET exam held on May 3, which was later cancelled over allegations of paper leak, they scored 580 and 560 marks, respectively.
In her first NEET attempt in 2025, Juveriya had scored 336 marks. She took a gap year to prepare again because her family could not afford a seat under the management quota.
The sisters were to attempt the NEET re-exam scheduled for June 21.
Juveriya’s death is now being counted as the second suicide linked to the NEET re-exam in Hyderabad. A 19-year-old student, Sheik Sana from Miyapur, died by suicide on June 20.
“Juveriya and Aisha studied together, exchanged practice papers and worked hard. But after Juveriya’s death, Aisha did not take the re-examination. She stopped studying and now does not speak to anyone. She just sits quietly at home,” her uncle, Mohammed Nayazoor Rahaman, a private company employee, said.
It was only in March that the girl’s father, Abdul Rahman, 46, a librarian at a college near Boduppal, a diabetic, underwent surgery for three stents.
Nayazoor, one of the first to arrive at the scene on June 15, said the family was devastated by the loss, and the immediate priority was to protect Aisha. Reeling from the psychological shock, the family had not disclosed the details till now.
Asked why the family decided to come out now, Nayazoor, representing the family, said: “What is the purpose of education, hardwork, and the system, when students are preparing on scholarships and under severe family conditions, but someone is just buying the question paper to get a seat? We are not criticising any political party, all we want is NTA to go, and to fix the system.”
A group of young activists, civil society representatives, and students involved in the NEET paper leak protests, including a cousin of NEET victim Sheik Sana, are standing with the family and have given the call: “Justice for Juveriya”.
(Roshni suicide prevention helpline numbers: 8142020033/44 and 040 66202000/ 2001)
Published – August 26, 2026 08:03 pm IST
