It was a domestic quarrel, and not failed crops or mounting debts, that led to a farmer from Sothriyam near here committing suicide.
Rajendran (43) consumed pesticide meant for spraying in his cotton field on June 3.
Relatives rushed him to Kumbakoanm GH from where he was referred to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. He died the following day in the hospital.
However, enquiries made with Rajendran’s relatives and villagers of Sothriyam revealed that the farmer had a running quarrel with his wife Dhanalakshmi and son Philip Raj for some time now.
On June 3, after a heated argument between Rajendran, Dhanalakshmi and a brother of Rajendran, the farmer left in a huff. He had taken a bottle of pesticide meant with him. He consumed the poison in the field and fell unconscious.
His relatives admitted that they had told medical officers at Kumbakonam that he had consumed poison due to stomach ache, a reason they reiterated with TMCH officials too. Based on their statement, the police filed an FIR stating it was a case if suicide.
The Valangaiman police registered a case noting that Rajendran had consumed a pesticide unable to endure chronic stomach ache.
It was then the case took a curious turn. Some of his relatives and villagers went to the police station and tried to tell the police that Rajendran had ended his life due to agriculture-related problems. The act of consuming the pesticide in his cotton field coupled with a belated explanation from his relatives and neighbours gave an impression that he took the extreme step as he was unable to meet his mounting debts.
Suicide prevention help is available through the government helpline 104 and Sneha’s phone outreach 044 24640050.
His relatives had told police that he took the extreme step because of agriculture-related problems
