A debt-ridden farmer from Kunchena-halli in Shivamogga taluk died in the district hospital, while his wife is battling for life after they consumed poison in an attempt to end their lives following crop loss, on Saturday.
According to the police, Rama Naik (68) and his wife Lakshmi Bai (60) consumed poison after they found it difficult to repay loans due to crop loss. They had grown cotton, maize and paddy on seven acres of land after borrowing loans amounting to Rs 3 lakh from various sources, including nationalised bank and private money lenders. They could not repay the loans as they suffered crop loss due to deficient rainfall. A case has been registered.
Published 22 October 2016, 19:50 IST