Bahraich, October 14, 2025: The family members of Antriksh Kumar Singh, a first-year cadet who was found hanging in his hostel room at the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, along with residents of his native village, held a candlelight march on Monday evening. The marchers demanded an impartial investigation into his death and sought justice for the young cadet.

Antriksh, 18, was found hanging in his hostel on October 10. While the Pune police have suggested suicide as a preliminary cause, his family has raised serious allegations of harassment by seniors at the academy, claiming this could have driven him to take the extreme step. The family has also expressed suspicions of foul play, accusing both the NDA administration and local authorities of concealing facts.

Family’s Allegations

During the candlelight march in Sumerpur village, Antriksh’s mother, Seema Singh, became visibly emotional while recounting her last interaction with her son. She stated that when she visited him 13 days prior, he appeared fine but had confided that a senior cadet was torturing him. According to Seema, the harassment involved forcing him to drink four jugs of water repeatedly, causing him to vomit.

Seema claimed that despite raising complaints with academy officials, the family received only assurances and no concrete action was taken. She also alleged that CCTV footage from the hostel was not made available to the family.

“We kept asking for the footage, but they kept postponing it. The academy said it was with the police; the police said it was with the academy. We ran from pillar to post until nightfall and had to return to Bahraich without seeing it,” Seema said.

She insisted that her son could not have committed suicide, stating,

“He didn’t go there to end his life; he went to serve the country. How can we believe he committed suicide?”

Antriksh’s younger brother, Abhinav, a Class 7 student, also questioned the possibility of suicide, highlighting the physical impracticality. He said,

“The room where he was staying had very high ceilings. He didn’t know how to hang himself.”

Academy and Police Response

The NDA has ordered a court of inquiry into Antriksh’s death to determine the exact circumstances. Preliminary police reports indicate that his course mates found him hanging in his room in the morning. No suicide note was discovered at the site, but authorities continue to investigate.

Police have said that preliminary findings point to suicide, but the family disputes this, alleging that harassment by seniors contributed to his mental distress. According to the family, Antriksh had expressed a desire to discontinue training due to repeated bullying and mistreatment.

Last Rites and Community Response

After bringing Antriksh’s body back to Bahraich from Pune, military officers from the Dogra Regiment performed his last rites with full military honours in his native village. The ceremony was attended by hundreds of citizens, public representatives, police officials, and local administrators, reflecting the deep respect and grief for the young cadet.

The candlelight march and public outcry underscore growing concerns about mental health, bullying, and harassmentwithin premier training institutions. Locals and family members have urged the state and central authorities to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation, assuring the public that no facts are hidden and justice is delivered.

As the investigation continues, the family and villagers remain determined to seek accountability and ensure that Antriksh’s death is thoroughly and fairly probed.

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