Villagers end stir, farmer's body cremated

Mysore, Dec 22 (UNI) The body of a farmer, who committed suicide on Wednesday last following alleged harassment by a private bank demanding repayment of loan, was allowed to be cremated by the Harave villagers in Chamarajanagar district today.

Police said the villagers had earlier refused to cremate the body, demanding compensation from ICICI bank, from which the farmer had taken the loan.

After getting an assurance from Deputy Commissioner Viswanatha Reddy that the government would announce a solatium and necessary action would be taken against the bank, the villagers, who were on a stir, withdrew their 'dharna'.

Tension prevailed for the last three days, even as the body began to decompose after the post-mortem on Thursday.

The farmer had taken a loan of Rs 4.97 lakh last year from ICICI bank for purchasing a tractor and the bank recently issued a notice asking him to repay the loan.

However, Siddaraju, unable to repay the loan, committed suicide by consuming poison.

This was the second such incident involving the bank in the district since last week.

However, the bank officials denied the allegations and wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard.

UNI