Bhopal: Six more distressed farmers committed suicide in different parts of state reportedly due to debt and other problems since Sunday evening, taking the total number of such farmer deaths to 33 since June 6.
Ghisiya Khan, 70, committed suicide by hanging himself in the well in his farm in Harsud in Khandwa district. The farmer’s body was found in the well on Tuesday. The farmer was under debt as he had recently bought a new tractor.
“The cause of suicide is not clear yet. As far as debt is concerned, it will be revealed only after we record the statements of his kin,” Harsud Police Station Incharge Vishwadeep Singh Parihar told IANS on Tuesday.
Similarly, unable to repay loan, a farmer Manohar Singh (50) from Dewas district drank poison on Sunday. The farmer from Sekali in Tonkkhurd tehsil died during the treatment on Monday, police said. His son Krishna Pal alleged that he had procured loans of Rs 5 lakh from three banks but was unable to repay it. One of the banks had recently issued recovery notices and had allegedly threatened legal action, he said. Police have registered a case and were investigating the matter.
A farmer’s suicide was reported from Dhar district where one Bilam Singh, (46), hanged himself to death at his home on Monday night in Chunpiya village under Gandhwani block. Bilam, father of three had four bigha land. Deceased brother claimed that he was in depression after he failed to repay loan which he had taken from cooperative society. He had even taken a loan from a moneylender of Tanda village for his son’s wedding and had mortgage two kilogram silver ornaments against it. Another tribal farmer Jahu drank insecticide on Monday in Para Chowki area in Jhabua district due to financial crunch.”Jahu’s son ran away from his home and got married.
As per the tradition, the panchayat of the Adivasi society directed Jahu’s son to pay a dowry of Rs 4.5 lakh to the girl’s family. Jahu mortgaged his land but still could not make the full payment and eventually committed suicide,” said Jhabua Police Station Incharge RK Baskare.
Similarly, Chandra Lilhare, 42, consumed insecticide in Bharweli Jagpur village in Balaghat district. The farmer, who was reportedly upset over debt, died on Tuesday morning. Lilhare had three acres of land but he sold one acre to pay back his debt, said his family. The farmer took the extreme step as he still owed money to the lenders, his family said.”He had received a recovery notice of Rs 1,18,000 from the Syndicate Bank. He also had a debt of Rs 70,000 which he had taken from the society. The police is investigating the cause of suicide,” said Bharweli Police Station Incharge Brajesh Vishwakarma.
Another farmer Pawan, 22, drank insecticide on Tuesday in Dharnawada village falling under Ghandinagar Police Station area in Indore. The farmer’s family has pointed to debt as the reason for his suicide. Police however, said there has been no report hinting that Pawan, who worked as a labourer, owed money to the lenders. The police is investigating the matter.
Farmers in state had launched a protest earlier this month demanding better prices for their produce and debt relief. On June 6, six farmers were killed in police firing in Mandsaur. Though the protest has been called off following intervention by the government, farmers have been ending their lives over debt and other problems.
Agrarian crisis
Khandwa: Ghisiya Khan, 70 hanging himself in the well at his farm. The farmer was under debt as he had recently bought a new tractor.
Dewas: Manohar Singh( 50) drank poison to death. He was under Rs 5 lakh debt and a bank had issued recovery notices and threatened legal action
Dhar: Bilam Singh, (46), hanged himself to death at his home. He was under depression fro failure to repay loan cooperative society and moneylender.
Jhabua: Financial crisis drove Jahu to drink insecticide, he had mortgaged his land to pay a dowry of Rs 4.5 lakh to the girl’s family.
Balaghat: Chandra Lilhare( 42), consumed insecticide. He had three acres of land but had to sell one acre to pay back his debt
Indore: Upset over mounting debt, Pawan, 22 drank insecticide and ended his life.
