SOMWARPET/ATHANI/BELAGAVI/ MANDYA: Three debt-ridden farmers killed themselves, one farmer who had attempted suicide on Saturday died and one attempted suicide in the state on Monday.
At Nidtha in Somwarpet, a farmer hanged himself. Devanand (40), had availed of a loan of Rs 1 lakh from a moneylender. When he was unable to repay, the lender filed a suit in the JMFC Court for Rs 6 lakh under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Following this, Devanand killed himself. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Shanivarasanthe police have registered a case. Assistant Commissioner Nanjunde Gowda visited the house of the deceased.
In Athani and Belagavi, two farmers committed suicide by consuming pesticide. Dundu Kadoli (65) of Savadi village in Athani taluk consumed pesticide in his house on Monday morning and died on the way to a hospital. Kadoli had three acres, of which two acres were barren. He had lost the crop, which he had grown in his remaining acre.
Kadoli had availed of Rs 1.5-lakh loan from KVG Bank at Hipperagi, Rs 40,000 from the Agriculture Cooperative Credit Bank, Rs 25,000 from Laxmi Cooperative Bank and about Rs 4 lakh from private moneylenders and friends. Kadoli is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. Athani tahsildar S S Pujar and Athani MLA Laxman Savadi visited his house.
Farmer Tatappa Anagouda Patil (36) of Yaranal village in Hukkeri taluk, who was undergoing treatment at KHI Hospital at Ghataprabha in Gokak taluk after consuming posion four days ago, died on Sunday night.
Patil had availed of Rs 2 lakh loan from PKPS and moneylenders. His family members alleged that Patil had ended his life following harassment from the lenders.
In Mandya, a 70-year-old farmer committed suicide. Rangegowda of Bellenahalli village at Santhe Bachhalli Hobli, KR Pet taluk, had grown cowpea and gingelly on 5.7 acres. He had borrowed Rs 60,000 from Kaveri Grameen Bank to sink a borewell, and Rs 4 lakh from private moneylenders for his children’s marriage.
He left home after lunch on Monday and his daughter Manjula found him dead on his field. According to family members, he was depressed. The body was shifted to the taluk hospital for autopsy. A case has been registered.
Attempted Suicide
In Belagavi, a farmer attempted to end his life by consuming poison at Bailhongal taluk on Saturday.
Basavaraj Adiveppa Mavinkatti (30) of Jakanayakanakoppa village was rushed to a hospital and is out of danger. Basavaraj had grown sugarcane in one acre from his 5 acres. He had supplied 16 tonnes of cane to Malaprabha Cooperative Sugar factory for which he was given Rs 1,800 instead of Rs 2,650 per tonne. He had availed a loan of Rs 7.5 lakh to purchase a tractor and had paid interest of Rs 2.30 lakh in the last three years. But he was scared over the mounting interest on the loan.
Distressed Farmer Destroys Crop
A distressed sugarcane grower of Hosakere Village, Maddur taluk destroyed his sugarcane crop on Monday.
H D Ramashankar destroyed the standing crop grown on 36 guntas of land.
Farmer Ramashankar said that he had destroyed his crop due to the delay in sugar factories purchasing the cane for crushing, and the fall in cane prices.
“I have borrowed Rs 5 lakh as loan from banks, and have been served repeated notices by bank. I had grown cane, mulberry in my land. Fall in price of both the crops, has become cause of worry. With no option left, have destroyed 8-month old crop,” he said.
PSI Nagesh and ASI Rajegowda had gone to the spot to try and talk the farmers out of it, but after one hour of a verbal duel, the farmers went ahead and destroyed the crop. Farmers Lingegowda and Prasanna also joined Ramashankar.
