Debt-Ridden Farmer Commits Suicide In Kalahandi

Kalahandi:  A farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at Sanakutru village of Kalampur block of Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Binod Majhi (32). He committed suicide by hanging himself in a mango tree near his house.

His family members alleged that he took the extreme step due to crop loss and debt burden. He had cultivated paddy in five acres of land. The whole crop was destroyed due to brown plant-hoppers, a pest locally known as ‘chakada’. He had burden of both bank and borrower’s loan. In a similar incident, a farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree at Sinhijuba village under Binika block in Sonepur district on December 1 following crop loss due to brown plant-hoppers. The deceased has been identified as Bhutulu Karna.

According to sources, he had a loan burden of Rs 2.5 lakh. His wife and son alleged that Bhutulu took the extreme step as he had not yet received compensation for the crop loss due to brown plant-hopper attack and drought. This year, he had cultivated paddy on two acres and was worried over ‘chakada’ attack.