Unable to pay back loan, farmer commits suicide

Sambalpur, Feb 9 (UNI) Unable to pay back a power-tiller loan of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and a crop loan from the Cooperative Bank, an young farmer of Barhaguda village in Bargarh district allegedly committed suicide yesterday.

Sources today said one Pramod Kumar Sahu, the eldest son of the family, lost his father 12 years back and was depending upon agriculture as the main source of income.

He was under pressure for the past few days for being unable to pay Rs 1.05 lakh to IOB. Pramod was to pay Rs 12,000 to the Cooperative Bank.

His family members found him dead early in the early morning today and immediately rushed him to the hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead, sources said.

Divisional Commissioner Arabinda Padhi said the reason behind suicide of this young farmer was yet to be ascertained.

He said there was no crop failure in Bargarh and the loan amount of Rs 1.17 Lakh was not a big amount for a farmer under the present circumstances.

The RDC had instructed the Baragarh Collector to make a detailed enquiry, including his family affairs. It would be immature to jump to any conclusion before a full-fledged enquiry, he remarked.

All the senior officers of Bargarh, local MLA Anand Acharya (BJD), Bijepur MLA Subal Sahu, Congress leader Sadhu Nepak visited the deceased family.

The farmers' organisation had also demanded right value of vegetables and all other agriculture product to stop such unfortunate incident in future.

UNI XC-DP SJC RD 2035