A farmer allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday in a Bihar village while his wife is battling for life in a hospital. The farmer couple had reportedly taken poison due to acute financial crisis.
Ramesh Singh (50) and his wife Chinta Devi belong to Chechaul village under Naubatpur police station of Patna district.
According to villagers, both were hospitalized on Tuesday morning, but Ramesh died late at night while his wife is battling for life.
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The villagers said the farmer couple had taken loan from a village money-lender after their paddy and wheat crops failed due to untimely rain and thunderstorm.
Due to the financial crisis, their two sons -- Dipak Kumar and Rupak Kumar -- had left the village with their families six months back. They are earning their livelihood in Surat in Gujarat.
“The farmer had taken a loan of Rs 4.5 lakh from a local moneylender and he was under pressure to repay the loan. Since both the crops failed, he committed suicide,” villagers told visiting journalists. However, officials said the cause of the death would be known only after the investigation is over. “A report from the local officials has been sought,” said Abhay Kumar Singh, District Magistrate of Patna.
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Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi visited the village on Wednesday and met the family members of the deceased.
“The farmer was in great distress as he was burdened with debts and there was no buyer for his paddy and wheat crop,” said Mr. Modi. He slammed the Nitish Kumar government for not opening purchase centres of crops.
Earlier, a farmer from Maner area of Patna and another from Khijirsarai block of Gaya district had allegedly committed suicide due to severe financial burden brought about by loss of crops.