Kendrapara: A sharecropper allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison over crop loss caused due to the cyclonic storm Titli and subsequent flood. The deceased has been identified as Gouranga Charan Kap, a sharecropper of Napang village under Sadar police limits in this district.
According to sources, Gouranga had cultivated paddy in his 3-acre of land by borrowing loans from private money lenders and banks. He had hoped for a good harvest and repay the loans.
However, his standing crops suffered severe damage during the cyclonic storm ruining his hopes of a good harvest. Since then, Gouranga was in depression and began to distant himself from friends and family.
“Since a past couple of days, he was under severe trauma due to the crop loss,” his brother Dhaneswar Kap said, adding that he allegedly drank poison and committed suicide.
“My brother had taken loans to cultivate his share of land but due to Titli cyclone, the crops were badly damaged and he was worried over repayment of loans,” he said.
Earlier in the morning today, locals found Gouranga lying near a temple in the village and rushed him to hospital. However, the doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
It may be pertinent to mention here that a farmer allegedly committed suicide in Ghambhariguda village in Koksara block of Kalahandi district by consuming poison October 25.
Another farmer had also taken the extreme step in Madiguda village under Bhabanipatna block in Kalahandi district August 5.
ADM blames family feud
Kendrapara: The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kendrapara, Basant Kumar Rout, Pattamundai Tehsildar Saroj Kumar Swain and Assistant Agriculture Officer Bhadra Narayan Das went to Napanga village Saturday to probe the suicide of sharecropper Gouranga Chandra Kapa. The Collector had asked the ADM to hold an on the spot inquiry and submit a report. “Kapa did not have land. He cultivated paddy on three acres taken on lease. He did not borrow money nor did unseasonal rain affect his crop,” said ADM Rout. The reason for his suicide is a quarrel between him and his younger brother, son and wife. A depressed Kapa left his house and committed suicide, Rout added.
PNN