Patapur: The A debt-ridden farmer of Patapur village under this block in Ganjam district allegedly committed suicide over crop loss, Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as N Prakash Reddy. This is the second farmer suicide in New Year. A debt-ridden farmer, Yudhistir Mallick, allegedly committed suicide by hanging at his house at Samasingha under Kolabira police limits in Jharsuguda district three days back.
According to sources, family members spotted Reddy lying dead on his farmland Wednesday morning and alerted the cops. The body was seized and sent for autopsy. A case of unnatural death was registered and a probe into the incident was launched.
According to family members, Reddy had taken loans from private moneylenders and banks to cultivate paddy in the kharif season. However, his hopes of a bumper harvest were dashed as he suffered severe crop loss due to the recent natural disasters and unseasonal rain. Moreover, his crops were affected by pests, bringing him huge loss, the family said.
The little quantity of paddy that Reddy had managed to save could hardly feed his family. The pressure of running the family and repaying the loans had a heavy toll on Reddy. He was under severe pressure and had gone to his farmland where he allegedly consumed poison.
“We don’t have land of our own. We had taken some loan for paddy cultivation. But, we suffered crop loss. My husband ended his life as he was under stress due to the loan burden” said, wife of the deceased.
Locals demanded immediate compensation for the bereaved family. Revenue officials arrived in the village and launched a probe into the incident.
“The farmer had taken loans and had hoped to repay through current year harvest. He was disturbed after he suffered crop loss and took the extreme step,” a fellow farmer said.
Reddy is now survived by his wife and minor children. As he was the sole earning member, the family should be provided with financial assistance from the government,” he added.
When contacted, the revenue officials said, “Whether the farmer committed suicide over the outstanding loan and crop loss or over some personal problems is yet to be known. A probe is on”.
PNN