Two farmers end lives

A farmer committed suicide by consuming poison at his field in Chikkumbi of Saundatti taluk, Belagavi district, on Tuesday.

The police said the farmer, identified as Basavaraj Erappa Mannur (40), had cultivated cotton in his 2.5-acre land. He took the extreme step unable to repay the loans taken from private lenders, according to the family members. Saundatti police have registered a case.

Lokesh (30) ended his life by hanging himself at himself at Mahadevarahalli in Arasikere taluk of Hassan district. He had grown potato on his three-acre land, but the crop failed due to pest attack. He is said to have borrowed Rs one lakh from private persons and Rs two lakh from a bank.