Farmer ends life over debt burden in Jajpur

Jajpur: Crop loss and consequent financial distress has now forced another farmer to end his life in Odisha. A farmer of Jajpuir district admitted for treatment at Cuttack SCB after he allegedly drank poison two days ago, died while undergoing treatment on Sunday.

According to information, Sushant Gantayat from Dihanarasinghpur village of Dharmasala block allegedly consumed pesticide kept in his house on Friday following which his health condition became critical.

He was immediately admitted to Cuttack SCB Medical College and Hospital where he breathed his last after two days of treatment.

According to his wife, Sushant had taken loans amounting to Rs 2 lakh from a self help group and other money lenders in the locality but was unable to repay the debts after suffering crop loss due to lack of water and pest attack.

Due to inability to pay back the loan amounts, Sushant had been under severe stress since past several days and it is suspected that he might have taken the extreme step after losing mental balance.

Following Sushant's death, his family members and other local villagers staged road blockade at Kantigadia chhak and demanded compensation. After intervention by police, the road blockade was later withdrawn.