Debt-ridden farmer ends life in Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda: A debt-ridden farmer of Samasingha village under Kolabira block in the district reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope at his house today.  The deceased has been identified as Yudhistir Mallik (48), a sharecropper.

According to sources, Mallik was under mental stress as he was unable to repay loan. He had reportedly taken loans from private money lenders for his daughter's marriage, said family members.

"Mallik had hoped to repay the loan through current year harvest while he suffered crop damage in the current winter season.  Disturbed over all this, he took the extreme step," said Sarpanch, Hemant Kumar Sahu.

"As Yudhistir was the sole earning member, the family should be provided with some financial assistance from the government," Sahu added.

"We don't have land of our own. My husband ended his life as he was under stress due to the loan burden which he had taken for our daughter's marriage" said Draupadi Mallik, wife of the deceased.

Meanwhile, the district administration officials could not be contacted the sharecropper's death.