4 debt-burdened farmers commit suicide in State

2 in Dharwad, one each in Tumakuru, Ballari

Four more debt-laden farmers in the State ended their lives while one marginal farmer from Gokak attempted suicide in the last 24 hours.

Unable to cope with death of his wife, mounting debts and tumbling prices, a potato farmer from Kamsanahalli in Madhugiri taluk of Tumakuru district committed suicide by hanging from a neem tree at his farm on Friday.

L T Raju (41) had taken loans (farm and personal) running into Rs 18 lakh from various sources. His three failed attempts to sink borewell at his farm cost him dearly. The farmer had reaped rich harvest of potato despite shortage of water. But the farmer suffered heavy losses due to dip in prices.

Based on the complaint filed by deceased farmer’s father Lingaiah, Kodigenahalli police have registered a case and investigations are on.   

Two debt-burdened farmers from Kalghatgi taluk in Dharwad district ended their lives in separate incidents on Friday.

Uluvanagouda Eranagouda Patil (35) committed suicide by hanging from a neem tree at his farm near Jinnuru. Patil had taken loans from a nationalised bank and private moneylenders. The deceased farmer is survived by wife, a son, one-year-old daughter and two siblings.

Tahsildar D N Sakeshwari visited the house of the victim. MLA Santosh Lad gave a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of deceased.

In yet another suicide reported in the taluk on Friday, Mailarappa Hiremani (26) of Gambhyapur ended his life by hanging himself from a tree. The police and the taluk administration is yet to ascertain the reason behind suicide.
 
A 38-year-old debt-stressed farmer from Kappagallu in Ballari taluk committed suicide by consuming pesticide at his farm on Friday. Tahsildar Pramodkumar told Deccan Herald, Dadawali had grown brinjal and leafy vegetables on the periphery of his one and a half acre land and was preparing the field for for paddy cultivation. It is learnt, Dadawali had borrowed Rs 2.8 lakh from a bank and a moneylender. Rural police have registered a case. On July 20, Agasar Mallaiah of same village had ended his life.

Suicide attempt

A marginal farmer from Nallanahatti in Gokak taluk of Belagavi district attempted suicide by consuming unknown poison at Gokak bus stand on Thursday evening.

Raju Yellappa Gadadi (32) was rushed to Karnataka Health Institute at Ghataprabha. His condition is said to be critical.

Raju had availed loans from a society and private moneylenders for agriculture and personal purposes. He took drastic step after he failed to raise money for treatment of his ailing son. Gokak police have registered a case on unnatural death and investigations are on.