Khariar: After a brief respite, another case of farmer suicide has come to the fore from Larka village under Boden police limits in Nuapada district Tuesday.
A young farmer identified as Jadu Bag consumed pesticide allegedly due to crop loss and loan burden. His family members admitted him to Kharial-based Mission Hospital where he died during treatment.
“He took the extreme step under the pressure of crop loss and debts,” his family members claimed.
According to Bag’s wife Dolamani Bag and brother Rupati Bag, Jadu, along with his brother, had cultivated paddy in his nine acres. For this, he had borrowed Rs 30,000 from a moneylender. He had also taken a farm loan from a bank. He had invested all the money in farming.
However, his hopes of a good harvest were dashed due to scanty rainfall leading to drought. Since then, he was under severe stress to return the borrowed money. Later, he tried to find some work to repay the debts, but in vain.
Left with no option, he went to Mumbai two months back for work. He had just returned home on the occasion of Dussehra. After the celebration, he, along with his wife, went to see his field and was depressed after seeing the withered crops.
The two returned home after which Bag consumed pesticide Monday.
The incident spread tension in the area as co-villagers staged a road blockade near Mission Hospital demanding Rs 10 lakh compensation for the victim’s family.
The agitators placed the body of the victim on National Highway-353 and continued their agitation. Later, additional tehsildar Sadasiv Naik reached the spot and brought the situation under control. A compensation of Rs 10,000 was provided under Harischandra Yojana.
The body was sent for post-mortem after which it was handed over to the family. PNN
