A 40-year-old cotton grower committed suicide in Chenchureddypalem near Gudluru in Prakasam district on Friday. Gudluru assistant sub-inspector P. Venkateswara Rao said Boyina Elisha hanged himself in his house after admitting his daughter who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy in the Government Hospital at Kandukur.
The farmer was deep in debt following the failure of his crop for four consecutive years, the ASI said. Mr Elisha owned three acres of land and leased four more acres to raise cotton crop this year, hoping to recoup losses. But the low prices of cotton put paid to his hope.
According to preliminary information available with the police, the farmer had taken a crop loan of Rs 2 lakh. An investigation is going on into the case, the ASI said. Gudluru mandal revenue officer Mercy Kumari conducted an inquest.
