A sugar cane farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in his field on Monday as he feared that he would not be able to repay his loans.
The farmer has been identified as Gurunath Chapganvi, 48, a resident of Badalankalgi village of Belagavi taluk.
According to official sources, the farmer, who had supplied 43 tonnes of sugar cane to Malaprabha Cooperative Sugar Factory, was awaiting a payment.
The surmise that he had also taken hand loans from private money lenders is under investigation.
Huge debts are said to be the reason for Chapganvi to take the extreme step.
Small Scale Industries and District in charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi visited the Community Health Centre at Hirebagewadi where the body of the deceased farmer had been kept.
MLA D B Inamdar, who is also the chairman of the sugar factory, had accompanied the minister.
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