Another farmer commits suicide in Odisha; death toll four in three days

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Khurda, Oct 11:

The list of farmers committing suicide in Odisha continues to rise by each passing day with yet another farmer committing suicide today taking the number of deaths to four in past three days.

The latest case has been reported from Khurda district. The deceased, identified as Abhimanyu Baliarsingh from Brajasundarpur village under Bolagarh block in the district, took to the extreme step by consuming poison due to bad crops and unable to bear the burden of loans.

Abhimanyu was missing from last night and was spotted unconscious in his field this morning. While his family members rushed him to Khurda district headquarters hospital, it was too late and the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Begunia police have lodged an unnatural death case and are investigating into the matter.

The family members are blaming it on the financial constraints and demanding compensation from the government.

“Abhimanyu had taken loans from various banks for farming including Salatara mini bank and Dhalapathara Odisha Gramya bank. He had been under severe stress following scanty rainfall which had badly affected the crops. Yesterday he went to the field and never returned. It is the burden of loan and inability to repay that led to his suicide,” said his cousin.

“This is a case of suicide. From the preliminary investigation it appears to be a clear cut case of death because of poisoning,” said Pradeep Kumar Das, CDMO of Khurda.

It may be mentioned here that earlier yesterday two farmers– Bhakta Dharua from Patnagarh sub-division of Bolangir district and Sanatan Mirdha from Jharjhari under Jujumara police limits in Sambalpur– had committed suicide due to crop loss and subsequent financial burden. A day before, another farmer named Hiralal Sahu from Bargarh district had committed suicide on Friday.