Physiotherapy Graduate Found Dead in Ahmedabad Hospital; Family Claims Abuse by Ex-Fiancé

Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) The local police in Ahmedabad have initiated an inquiry into the enigmatic death of 23-year-old physiotherapy graduate Drishti Prajapati, who was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in a hospital room located in Naranpura.

Drishti, who resided in Meghaninagar, had been employed at Shreeji Wellness in the same vicinity. Her family contends that she was compelled to take her own life due to emotional and physical abuse inflicted by her former fiancé, Rajinikanth Prajapati.

The police from Gujarat University have filed a case against Rajinikanth, following the revelations made in Drishti's suicide note. Investigators are currently examining allegations of sexual coercion and emotional distress that purportedly led her to this tragic decision.

In the meantime, Drishti's devastated family is demanding justice, urging authorities to take stringent measures against those accountable for her ordeal.

According to law enforcement officials, Drishti had been struggling with depression after her engagement with Rajinikanth, son of Bharatbhai Nenaji Prajapati from Shahibaug, ended.

Her family asserts that Drishti had uncovered Rajinikanth's alleged affair with another woman, which contributed to the collapse of their relationship. In a note found at the scene, Drishti reportedly accused Rajinikanth of coercing her into a physical relationship and subjecting her to emotional and physical abuse. Drishti's mother, Bharti, mentioned that her daughter had confided in her about the pressure and threats posed by Rajinikanth.

The abuse, according to her, intensified following their engagement in April 2024. On the day of her death, Drishti had informed her family that she was visiting a patient in Shahibaug before proceeding to work in Naranpura. When she stopped answering calls, her family grew concerned. Shortly after, they received a devastating notification regarding her suicide. Upon arriving at the hospital, they found her deceased and promptly notified the authorities.

As per statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the state recorded 8,050 suicides in 2020, rising to 8,789 in 2021, indicating a 9.1 percent increase. The number further rose to 9,002 suicides in 2022. Between 2020 and 2022, Gujarat reported a total of 25,478 suicides.

Among its cities, Ahmedabad had the highest number with 3,280 cases, followed by Surat with 2,862, and Rajkot with 1,287. The main causes identified for these suicides included family problems (2,285 cases in 2022), illnesses (1,747 cases), and marital disputes (367 cases). Notably, homemakers accounted for a significant proportion, with 1,761 cases in 2022.

Concerningly, the suicide rate among daily wage workers has surged by over 50 percent in the past five years. Currently, approximately nine daily wage workers take their own lives every day in the state. Student suicides have also seen a troubling rise. Between April 2020 and March 2023, 495 students, including 246 females, ended their lives. This signifies a 21 percent increase in student suicides in the 2022-23 financial year compared to 2020-21.