JAJPUR:After crop loss due to pest attack and unseasonal rain led to suicide by farmers across the State, a new factor has been added to the tragedy. A farmer of the district on Monday night committed suicide after the Met forecast more rains in coming days. The deceased farmer was identified as 49-year-old Suresh Chandra Sahoo of Sundarpur village under Binjharpur police limits of Bari block.
Suresh’s father Narayan Chandra Sahoo said his son had cultivated paddy crop over six acres of land of which four acres were on lease. He suffered crop loss in parts of lease area due to unseasonal rains last month. “While the remaining paddy crop is ready for harvest, the Met office forecast that there may be more rain triggered by depression. Anticipating total loss of the crop of the season, Suresh hanged himself to death, “ said Narayan.
Heavy rainfall has been predicted in many parts of Odisha from December 7 due to a well-marked low pressure formed over south Andaman Sea.Suresh, a father of three, was found hanging from a tree in the backyard of his house early on Tuesday. Earlier, he was working as a plumber in a private company in Kolkata. He left the job and came home two years back to start farming.
After the news of Suresh’s death spread, local activists of Nabanirman Krushak Sena reached his house and expressed their condolences.Bari BDO Maheswar Sethy said the exact reason of Suresh’s death can be ascertained only after a thorough inquiry.Contacted, Binjharpur IIC Asit Kumar Mohanty said police seized the body of the farmer and registered an unnatural death case in this connection. Further investigation is on.