Berhampur: A farmer allegedly committed suicide over crop loss and debt burden at Ganjam district here on Thursday.
The deceased has been identified as Harishchandra Pradhan of Mahadeipur village in Patrapur block under Jarada police limits.
According to reports, Pradhan allegedly consumed pesticides on Wednesday morning and was admitted to Patrapur hospital in a critical condition where he died during treatment.
Pradhan had taken loan from a bank and private money lenders for his daughter's marriage and was trying hard to repay the loan by selling paddy at the Government-sponsored paddy mandis, sources said.
However, he could not do the same due to the apathetic attitude of the concerned officials. Finding no alternative, he sold the paddy to a person in Andhra Pradesh but was cheated in the deal.
Unable to bear the loss and the pressure of repaying the loan forced him to resort to the extreme step, his family members alleged.
“A team comprising Jarada IIC, BDO, Village Agriculture Worker (VAW) has initiated a joint inquiry into the incident. The team is expected to file its report to the district administration,” said Berhampur Sub-collector Siddharth Sankar Swain.
Appropriate steps will be taken only after getting the report, Swain added.