Sankar Balappa Matoli (75), a farmer of Linganmath village in Khanapur taluk, died in the district hospital on Sunday. Two weeks ago, he had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking permission to commit suicide, saying he was burdened with debt and that the sugar factories had not paid him his arrears.
One of them, Soubhagyalakshmi Factory, which had not paid him his arrears, is owned by district in-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi’s family. The other is Shiva Sagar factory in Udupudi.
Doctors said that he had age-related illnesses. He was admitted to the hospital a week ago.
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He has four acres of land and has outstanding loans of ₹ 7.5 lakh. His letter had sought farm loan waiver and quick payment of arrears.
However, Deputy Commissioner S. Ziyaullah ensured that the factories paid him his arrears a few days ago.