Man chops off part of foot to claim MBBS seat under disability quota

VARANASI: A 24-year-old from UP’s Jaunpur allegedly chopped off a part of his left foot in an apparent bid to claim disability benefits for NEET medical admission. He initially lied to police, claiming he had been attacked. Cops discovered the shocking act of desperation through his diary and from his girlfriend’s statement.Suraj Bhaskar, a resident of Khalilpur, had completed D-Pharma and had been preparing for NEET, hoping to secure admission under the disability quota, police said. On Jan 18, he told cops he had been attacked and his left foot severed, leaving only the heel. Police registered an FIR against two unknown perpetrators on charges of attempted murder, CO City Goldie Gupta said.When quizzed, Suraj repeatedly changed his statement. Police then found his diary. There, he had written about aiming for MBBS admission in 2026, and about filling out a marriage registration form. During questioning, his girlfriend told police Suraj was desperate to secure MBBS admission by 2026. In Oct last year, he had visited BHU to obtain disability paperwork but failed.Apparently frustrated, Suraj decided to cut off his foot, allegedly using a machine, police said. Examination of electronic evidence revealed no one had approached him that night. Police searched the under-construction house – where Suraj confessed to having done the deed – and its surroundings and found injections in a field, possibly anaesthetics.