Post News Network
Nuapada, Dec 26: A farmer in Kermeli village under Kodomeri gram panchayat about 7 km from the district headquarters here committed suicide by hanging himself over alleged crop loss and debt burden in the wee hours of Saturday.
Sahadev Majhi (45) took the extreme step early Saturday morning. On being informed, Jonk police in Khariar Road reached the spot. A mob led by local political activists staged a road blockade at Junani Square on Bargarh-Nuapada state highway with the deceased’s body, demanding compensation for the bereaved family.
The protesters demanded Rs 10 lakh as financial assistance, a house under Indira Awas housing scheme and a job for a family member of the deceased.
The villagers relented after tehsildar Priyabrata Padhi reached the spot and gave away Rs 5,000 from the District Red Cross Fund and Rs 2,000 from the Harish Chandra Yojana and promised financial assistance of Rs 20,000 from a Centrally-sponsored scheme. Revenue inspector Himanshu Kata took stock of the situation.
Sources said Sahadev was the second of two sons of Sarat Majhi in the village. He was taking care of his extended family after the death of his elder brother 20 years back. He was tilling 11 acres that belonged to his elder uncle and had borrowed Rs 33,200 from Darlimunda cooperative society to raise his crops by mortgaging land pattas of 2.50 acre land. He had withdrawn Rs 20,300 of the sanctioned loan and had purchased fertilizer worth Rs 12,900.
He was crestfallen after all his crops wilted due to drought. He was heartbroken and was pushed into distress. Sahadev is survived by his son Amit and his wife Mala Majhi.
