Rajasthan Minister Claims "Love Affair" A Reason Behind Kota Suicides

Rajasthan minister Shanti Dhariwal has said that love affair was a reason behind many student suicide cases, including the recent death of a 16-year-old girl in her hostel.

However, the girl's father has asked the minister for evidence to support his claim.

During a press conference on Wednesday (13 September) evening, the minister stated that a letter left by the girl indicated that a love affair was the cause.

Contrary to the minister's statement, the local police have reportedly said that no letter or suicide note was found in the girl's room, where she allegedly hanged herself on Tuesday night.

"You will be sorry to hear that a girl has also committed suicide today. It has been found that she committed suicide due to an affair. She had left a letter... All the suicides committed here (by coaching students) needed to be investigated thoroughly to find exact reason," Dhariwal was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The Rajasthan urban development and housing minister made these comments during a press conference held with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Dhariwal also mentioned that "parental pressure" is another factor contributing to student suicides in Kota, a coaching hub.

However, the father of NEET aspirant Richa, who arrived in Kota from Ranchi on Thursday morning to receive her daughter's body, strongly objected to Dhariwal's statements and demanded evidence to support his claims.

"My daughter did not have any affair. If he (Dhariwal) has any such evidence, he should share it with me," Ravindra Sinha, the girl's father, said while speaking to media.

He also said his daughter had complained to him that some boys in Kota would tease her while going to and coming from a coaching institute.

Sinha also expressed dissatisfaction over the counseling facilities provided to coaching students in Kota.

Meanwhile, the Circle Inspector of Vigyan Nagar police station, Davesh Bhardwaj, who is currently investigating the latest suicide case, has denied recovering any suicide note from Richa's hostel room.

He also refuted love affair the reason behind the suicide by the girl saying police did not find any such clue from her room.

The police have filed a case under Section 174 of CrPC, according to Bhardwaj.

He also mentioned that the girl's body was handed over to her family members.

According to the PTI report, DSP Dharmveer Singh also denied of recovering any note suggesting love affair as the reason behind the girl's suicide.   

The family members decided to perform the girl's last rites at an electric crematorium in Kota itself, the DSP said.

The girl was a class 11 student and was preparing for NEET in a coaching institute here since May this year.

Official figures indicate that Richa was the 23rd student to commit suicide in Kota this year, making it the highest number ever recorded in the country's coaching hub. Last year, the figure stood at 15.