Bhadrak: Distressed over crop loss amid COVID-19 pandemic and mounting loan burden, a farmer allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself with a rope inside his house. The incident took place Sunday wee hours at Rajualibindha village under Bhadrak Rural police limits in Bhadrak district.
The deceased has been identified as Mahendra Das. According to family members, the farmer took the extreme step while they were sleeping.
On being informed, police recovered the body and sent it for postmortem.
According to a source, Mahendra owned a few acres of land and had cultivated paddy by borrowing from private moneylenders and banks. He had hoped to repay the debt after a good harvest. Even though the harvest was good, he was unable to sell them amid the COVID-19 induced lockdowns and shutdowns.
Lack of cold storages in the area also plays a major role in crop damage.
“He had taken loan of Rs 50,000 from private moneylenders for cultivation. But, we suffered huge losses after torrential rain washed away our crops and COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, he was in depression,” a family member said.
It is being alleged that he was under stress as the money lenders were pressurising him for repayment following which he took to the extreme step.
That said, police have started an investigation into the matter.
PNN
