Nischintakoili: Suicides by farmer continue unabated as one more farmer allegedly committed suicide in Kolanpur village under Nischintakoili block of Cuttack district Monday, reports said.
The deceased has been identified as Sumant Mallick. Villagers alleged that Mallick committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of his house win the absence of family members. He was under mental stress over the past few days as he was unable to repay loans taken from moneylenders for paddy cultivation, claimed family members.
Mallick’s death spread tension in the village as fellow farmers threatened to follow suit. On receipt of information, police reached the village and launched a probe.
According to sources, Mallick had cultivated paddy this Kharif season in a few acres of land by borrowing loans from private moneylenders. He had hoped of a bumper harvest and repay all his loans.
However, his hopes of good harvest were dashed due to cyclonic storm Titli and subsequent flood. The little crop that he had managed to save from the natural disaster was also affected by pests due to the knee deep stagnant water following the flood.
While farmers across the state are busy harvesting their produce, Mallick was relying under crop loss and severe loan burden. Under pressure, he often remained silent and did not eat food and was slowly distancing himself from others since the last few weeks.
He had tried to approach the local officials and narrate his ordeal, but his pleas fell to deaf ears. On the other hand, money lenders had begun to frequent his home demanding their money back. Failing to bear the trauma, Mallick hanged himself while family members were out for work.
A neighbour spotted him hanging and alerted other family members after which he was rescued and rushed to the local community health centre (CHC). However, doctors in the CHC declared him brought dead upon arrival. A case of unnatural death was registered and the body was sent for post-mortem.
“He had taken loans from moneylenders for agricultural purposes. But he was unable to repay the loans following which lenders used to frequently visit us asking for money. So, he was under mental pressure,” said Mallick’s wife Jhuni, wife of the deceased farmer.
“My brother had taken loans from moneylenders and committed suicide after he was unable to pay,” said brother of the deceased.
It may be noted here that a debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by consuming poison over crop loss in Kendrapara district November 17 and another farmer—Loknath Pangi of Maliguda village under Pottangi police limits in Koraput district ended his life a day after November 18.
In the last four months, two farmers have allegedly committed suicide after facing crop loss in the district. Parmeswar Lahajal, 26, of Gambhariguda under Koksara block had ended his life by consuming poison October 25. A cotton farmer, Bahadur Rana, of Madiguda under Bhawanipatna block had committed suicide August 5.
Similarly, Ramachandra Pradhan of Hatiadi village under Digapahandi block had allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide due to crop loss and debt burden September 12.
PNN