Khadial: Yet another farmer of western Orissa Wednesday committed suicide by consuming pesticide as he failed to stand the stress of crop loss and load burden, a report said.
The deceased was identified as Jharpod Shabar (62) of Kotamal village under this block in Nuapada district.
According to sources, Jharpod had raised paddy and cotton on a patch of five acres this year taking loans from local money lenders. Though he suffered crop loss over past three years due to drought, he expected a bumper harvest this season and had a plan to repay all his loans. However, he came under severe stress after he incurred crop loss due to low rainfall.
Jharpod went to his farmland in the morning after breakfast. But the villagers found him in an unconscious state on his field and rushed him to Khadial Mission Hospital here. The doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The farmer consumed pesticides to end his life, the family said.
Expressing anger over the death, BJP workers placed the body at Khadial police station and staged a blockade on NH -353.
On being alerted additional tehsildar Sadashiv Nayak reached the spot and granted Rs 10,000 from Red Cross and Rs 2,000 under Harishchandra Yojana. He also promised to provide government assistance in accordance with the law following which the agitation was withdrawn.
Later, the police seized the body and handed it over to the family after post-mortem. A case of unnatural death was registered. PNN
