1 more farmer commits suicide in Karnataka

Belagavi, Aug 5: A 52-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide after he was unable to repay loan taken for agricultural yields, police said on Thursday.

With this, a total of 14 farmers have ended their lives in the district in the last two months allegedly due to debt.

Gangappa Bhimappa Ullagaddi, a farmer of Hanamasagar village, ended his life by consuming the pesticide at his house last night as he was unable to repay about Rs three lakh loan, police said.

Ullagaddi is survived by wife, a son and six daughters. A case had been registered and further investigations were on, police said.

The state has been witnessing a rise in incidents of suicide by farmers in the last two months, prompting the Opposition parties to launch an attack on the Congress government.

State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had last month directed all district in-charge ministers to visit families of the deceased farmers and sought a report on compensation extended to them.

PTI