MP farmers’ suicide toll now 7
MANDSAUR FALLOUT Under pressure to pay back loan, Hoshangabad farmer kills self despite assurances by Chouhan govt
A farmer committed suicide by consuming poison on Wednesday evening in Babai village of Hoshangabad district, situated 60km from the capital.
This is the seventh suicide by a farmer in Madhya Pradesh within a week that coincided with violent protests by farmers in the Malwa region.
The deceased farmer, Narmada Prasad Yadav, took the extreme step after allegedly being harassed by a money lender Prabhakar Rao. Police have registered a case against Rao for abetment of suicide.
Family members said that Yadav had borrowed ₹50,000 from Rao and was under pressure from him to return the money over the past few days. Yadav had come to Hoshangabad mandi and got ₹45,000 against his lentil crop on Wednesday but Rao forcibly took all of it from him.
Yadav’s brother, Ashok, said, “He consumed poison in the mandi and became unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital where he died during treatment.”
Ashok said, “Narmada was facing a very tough time to make ends meet. Somehow he managed to get ₹45,000 for his crop but Rao took the money from him.” Sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP), Hoshangabad, SN Chaudhary, said, “Police are trying to nab the accused.” in a near-dry well in the neighbourhood.
Kaleshwar Mahto, another farmer who failed to repay a bank loan, had allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the same area on June 10. A special investigation team (SIT) was set up to probe the circumstances surrounding his death.
Chunva Oraon, Pithoria station in-charge, said police were trying to ascertain if Baldev’s death was an accident or suicide.
Ranchi deputy commissioner Manoj Kumar said the farmer didn’t seem to have committed suicide due to loan-related troubles.
“The deceased was sanctioned a loan of ₹25,000 under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme barely a week ago. He had time till next year to repay the loan. According to bank authorities, he withdrew ₹20,000 in three instalments over the last one week. He made the last withdrawal of ₹5,000 on Wednesday,” Kumar said, adding that there was no pressure from the bank.
“We need time to investigate the case and find the truth behind Baldev’s death. His body has been sent for an autopsy,” the deputy commissioner said.
Baldev’s family, however, insisted that he had committed suicide over loan-related issues.
“Besides the KCC loan, he had also borrowed money from relatives,” said Anita Devi, his widow. “He was depressed because of the mounting debt.”
The family has about half an acre of land, where they grow beans and other vegetables. “Our crops were damaged due to lack of irrigation,” said Devi, who now has to feed their two children on her own.
Meanwhile, the SIT formed to probe Kaleshwar’s death collected pieces of evidence from the river bank where the body was cremated for DNA analysis.
Though the Jharkhand government doesn’t have a loan waiver plan, it passed an interest subvention scheme aimed at providing agricultural loans at 1% interest on Tuesday.
SANJOY DEY