Bargarh: After visiting the house of farmer Khainu Bagarti alias Hadu at Kendpali village in Bargarh district as part of a fresh probe into Hadu's suicide case, the district Collector Anjan Kumar Manik today said a report will be submitted to the Home Department, Agriculture Department and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) within next two days.
Following a directive issued by Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy, Manik accompanied by Bargarh SP this morning reached the Kendpali village to undertake the fresh probe.
The Collector and SP met the family members of Hadu and the villagers to find out the circumstances which led to Hadu to take the extreme step. They also visited the farmland of Hadu as some officers, who had earlier visited Kendpali to get the ground report, told the district administration that Hadu's crop was damaged due to lack of irrigation.
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Villagers said Hadu had taken a loan of around Rs 19,000 to grow cabbage and paddy on his three and half acres land. But, the crops got damaged due to scarcity of water causing a mental distress as a result of which he committed suicide.
It may be mentioned that the Agriculture Minister had ordered the fresh probe after he was targeted by both BJP and Congress alleging false statements on Hadu's death have been presented in the State Assembly.
Earlier, Maharathy had stated Hadu had taken his life not because of crop loss or loan burden but a quarrel with his wife prompted him to consume pesticide on February 26.
Hadu died at VSS Medical College Hospital, Burla, while undergoing treatment on February 27.
Also read: Fresh probe into Bargarh farmer’s suicide ordered
Wife of Hadu, Kalabati Bagarti, however, had negated the statements of the Agriculture Minister. She had also alleged not a single government official had visited her house to probe into the husband death case.
Following a denial from Bagarti's wife, the Agriculture Minister had said the statements on the death case were issued on basis of the report given to him by the Bargarh Collector.
Meanwhile, the Collector passed the buck on the Tehsildar and the Assistant Agriculture Officer by saying the report submitted to the minister was prepared basing on the facts given by them.