Seven farmers end lives in State

Unable to cope with debts and crop failure,  seven farmers committed suicide in the State in the last 24 hours.

Two debt-stressed farmers from Haveri district ended their lives on Thursday. Manjunath Bhimkkanavar (38) of Kerimattihalli in Haveri taluk committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of an abandoned building near his house. Manjunath, who owns two-and-a-half acres of dry land, had borrowed Rs 1 lakh from various sources including self-help groups. He is survived by wife, mother and two children.

In another incident reported in the district, a sugar cane grower from Medleri in Ranebennur taluk committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of his house on Thursday. It is said, Dilleppa Lakshmappa Sannakenchaller (55) had suffered heavy losses due to falling cane prices. Add to it, he was knee-deep in debt. The deceased farmer leaves behind three daughters, all unmarried.

A debt-laden farmer from Hulikatti in Saundatti taluk, Belagavi district, ended his life by hanging himself from a tree at his farm on Thursday.

Kareppa Lakkappa Govindappagol (37) had suffered crop loss and was reeling under heavy debts. According to the complaint lodged by his father Lakkappa, harassment by moneylenders pushed his son Kareppa to suicide. Tahsildar Naganagouda Patil visited the house of the deceased farmer.

A 45-year-old farmer from Naaduru village in Sira taluk of Tumakuru district ended his life by hanging himself from the ceiling of his house.

Siddeshappa was upset after he got loan recovery notice from the bank two weeks back. He had availed loans running into Rs 3 lakh from a nationalised bank, pawnbrokers and women self-help groups. He is survived by wife, three children, mother and a physically challenged sister.

Unable to repay loans amounting to Rs 5 lakh, Kempegowda (38) committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree at his farm in Bidarahosalli near Bharatinagar of Maddur taluk, Mandya district.

Superintendent of Police Bhushan Bharose, Tahsildar Manjegowda, PSI Venkategowda and others visited the spot.

A 65-year-old farmer ended his life by consuming unknown poison at his farm near Kikkeri in Mandya district. Mounting debts and crop failure, is said to have driven Papegowda, a resident of Sollepura, to suicide. A farmer from Bannitalpura in Gundlupet taluk of Chamarajanagar district committed suicide by consuming pesticide at his farm on Thursday.

It is learnt, Siddashetty was in distress after his efforts to sink borewells on his farm proved futile. The deceased farmer had suffered losses in onion cultivation.
Members of farmers' organisations, BJP and JD(S) leaders staged a flash dharna when a group of officials and the elected representatives tried to depict Siddashetty’s death as suicide due to family disputes.

The protesters relented after Deputy Commissioner Kunjappa said that compensation would be distributed to the kin of Siddashetty after the assistant commissioner holds an enquiry to ascertain whether the deceased was farmer.