BHOPAL: A debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide by holding a live wire in Panna district (375 km from Bhopal) on Thursday evening.
While the kin of the deceased farmer Ramashankar Tiwari alleged that he committed suicide by a holding a live wire in Bhathaqrr Megha village in Devendranagar area of Panna district, the local police claimed the farmer was electrocuted.
The deceased farmer's nephew Ramakant Tiwari said his uncle had to repay Rs 5.3 lakh loan to the bank, but owing to daughter's marriage and illness of a close relative, he couldn't pay back the loan.
"Recently the bank staff seized my uncle's tractor and handed him a notice to repay the loan in a fortnight,” alleged Ramakant Tiwari.
However, Devendranagar police station in-charge Reeta Tripathi claimed that primary investigations revealed that the farmer was electrocuted and did not commit suicide. "We are still investigating the matter and recording the statements of concerned," Tripathi told the New Indian Express.
In April, another debt ridden farmer had allegedly committed suicide in Dhar district (250 km from Bhopal) over inability to repay Rs one lakh loan to bank.