Farmer commits suicide over debt burden in Subarnapur

Subarnapur: A farmer allegedly committed suicide in Binika area of Subarnapur after his crops were affected by pests and he was unable to pay off his loans.

The deceased, Bhutulu Karna, took the extreme step after he found his crops infested with pests yesterday, family members of the deceased alleged. He was worried about how he will arrange money to pay off his loans, family members added.

"When the crops were infested with pests, he was depressed and later took his own life. We have a loan worth Rs 2 lakh to pay. Government is not helping us at all," wife of Bhutulu, Padmabati Karna, said.

This year, Bhutulu had done farming on 1 acre land and as a sharecropper on another 1 acre land.

On the other hand, district collector of Subarnapur, Madhusudan Mishra, assured that an investigation will be done if a complaint is registered.

In another incident, a farmer and his wife attempted suicide by drinking pesticide in Laitara village of Titlagarh. Tikeram Mahanand and Tebha Mahanand had cultivated paddy in 5 acre land, but due to some reasons, the harvest was not good. The couple has been admitted to Titlagarh sub-divisional hospital.