The unending saga of farmers committing suicide continued in the State with five fresh cases being reported.
In Kalaburagi, two more debt-ridden farmers ended their life by consuming pesticide, taking the number of such suicides in the district to 15. While Shamrao Chavan (30) of Polakpalli Tanda in Chincholi taluk in the district, who consumed pesticide in his house on Sunday, died at the Government General Hospital on Sunday night after failing to respond to treatment, another farmer Sharanappa Bommanna Jogi (38) of Ballundigi village in Jewargi taluk in the district, who consumed pesticide on Saturday, died at a private hospital in Bijapur district on Monday. The reason for the suicide of both the farmers is attributed to mounting debts and failure of crop. Shamrao Chavan, who owned eight acres of land, had availed himself of a loan of Rs. 1 lakh from a nationalised bank. However, it was said, he was unable to repay the loan due to the failure of crops. Sharanappa Bommanna Jogi had taken loans, in all, Rs. 4 lakh, from private moneylenders to raise crops in his six acres of rain-fed land. He had also the burden of repaying another loan of Rs. 95,000 taken from a nationalised bank by his father who died two years ago.
In Chitradurga
Unable to pay his debt, a farmer from Shivapur village in Holalkere taluk hanged himself to death at his farm on Monday morning. The police gave his name as Somshekhar (34), a resident of Shivapur village. According to police sources, the farmer had four acres of land and had borrowed Rs. 4 lakh loan, in all, from nationalised banks and Rs. 1 lakh from private moneylenders.
In Uttara Kannada
Seetaram Belagu Ager (40), a farmer of Karlagadde near Hillur in Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada district, committed suicide on Saturday by consuming poison at his home, according to a report reaching here on Monday. He had taken a loan of Rs. 80,000 from a local bank. He was worried about repayment of loan as he had received recovery notice from the bank. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Tahsildar Lanjekar and Circle Inspector of Police Arun Kumar visited the house. Honnavar police have registered case.
In Hubballi
A farmer, Linganagouda Fakiragoudar (58) of Ballur village in Navalgund taluk, committed suicide allegedly due to financial distress on Sunday night. A small land holder, he had reportedly borrowed around Rs. 3 three lakh from private moneylenders and Rs. 60,000 from the local credit cooperative society. Navalgund MLA N.H. Konaraddi gave away Rs. 25,000 to the farmer’s family.
