Debt-ridden Orissa farmer commits suicide

Bargarh (Orissa), Aug 23 (ANI): A debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by consuming pesticide in Barahaguda village of Orissa's Bargarh District on Sunday.

The dead body of the 35-year-old farmer identified as Blaram Sahu was recovered from his own patch of agricultural land.

Bargarh District Sub-Collector Bishnu Prasad Mishra said Sahu took the decision of committing suicide under the pressure of loan.

"One Balaram Sahu, of Barahaguda, has committed suicide. He was admitted to the district headquarters hospital. The villagers said that he committed suicide because of the pressure of loan as he was a small, marginal farmer," said Mishra.

Kailash Pradhan, a nephew of the deceased farmer said that he was suffering from depression, as his land was not yielding good crops, resulting in meager earnings whereas the rate of interest on the loan he had availed was mounting up with each passing day.

"He took loan for farming. He always used to say that the loan was too much, how will I pay it off. Due to this he went into depression. He was always thinking about money," said Pradhan.

"Land was also not reaping good crops due to which he was unable earn money. The interest was also increasing day by day. Balaram Sahu's land is also under mortgage due to his loan," he added. (ANI)