Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 26:

While politicking over farmer suicides in the state has encroached upon the media space, debt-ridden farmers continue to lose the battle for survival with six fresh cases of alleged suicide by farmers have been reported in Odisha today.

Drought

While a farmer Satrughan Behera of Tikarpada village under Sadar block of Keonjhar district allegedly ended his life under the burden of debt, another farmer Bidyadhar Nayak of Birasinghpur village in Ganjam district reportedly committed suicide for the same reasons.

Similarly, Pabitra Badhia of Bhatli block in Bargarh district reportedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide. According to his family members Pabitra’s crops had failed and he was under stress to repay the debts he had incurred for cultivation.

Again another farmer from Dhenkanal district Baidhar Pradhan died today while undergoing treatment at the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack. Baidhar was admitted to the hospital yesterday in critical condition after he had consumed poison allegedly after suffering crop loss.

Besides, another farmer Baidhar Mahalik of Bhadrak district allegedly committed suicide today, while a debt-ridden farmer of Tigiria village in Keonjhar district reportedly ended his life after jumping into a well.