Farmer suicide: Another farmer ends life in Bargarh

Bargarh: Once again a case of suspected farmer suicide was reported from Bargarh after a resident of Bheden block in the district consumed poison over alleged farming issue and succumbed at the district headquarters hospital on Friday.

Family members of the deceased, identified as Debendra Thapa of Khapasipalli village said he was under immense mental agony following crop damage in pest attack in two-and-half acres of his farm land.

Besides, Thapa had taken a personal loan of Rs 70,000 for agricultural purposes that he was unable to repay, family members added.

Under severe mental pressure Thapa consumed poison and died later while undergoing treatment at the Bargarh hospital, the family alleged.

Recently Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said no cases of farmer suicides have been reported so far in the current financial year and the previous one as well.

In a written reply to a question of Congress MLA Bhujabal Majhi, the minister said in the Odisha Assembly that a total of 11 farmer suicide cases and seven alleged ones were probed in 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. However, the probe report mentions no death related to farming issues.