Five more farmers end life

Five more farmers have committed suicide in the State.

Bhairava (30), allegedly committed suicide by hanging in his house at Kallur in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district on Friday.

Bhairava had 1.3 acres of land on which he was growing vegetables. He was also growing vegetables on the land he had taken on lease from Yousuf of the same village. He had taken loan of Rs. 20,000 from Vyavasaya Seva Sahakara Niyamita in the name of his grandmother and Rs. 3 lakh from moneylenders, the Gubbi police said. He was reportedly being pressured by moneylenders to repay the loan.

Kappanna Gowda (55) of Salagame in Hassan taluk, who allegedly consumed pesticide in an attempt to commit suicide five days ago, died in Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday. His family members told the police he had borrowed Rs. 1 lakh from Kaveri Grameena Bank and another Rs. 1 lakh from a moneylender. He was in distress as ginger and potato crops in his farm were affected by diseases, causing him losses, according to the Hassan Rural police.

Halappa N.C. (65), a resident of Nagabovanahalli in Tarikere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, allegedly ended life by consuming pesticide on Thursday. According to Ajjampura police, Halappa owned 1 acre and 1 gunta of land and used to cultivate mango and areca nut. He had taken loans from Corporation Bank and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank at Bukambudi, besides borrowing from moneylenders. His son, Siddesh, told the police that Halappa was upset as he often received bank notices and private moneylenders used to force him to repay the loan.

Kantharaju (35), a farmer from Sabbatti in Arkalgud taluk of Hassan district, who allegedly attempted suicide by consuming poison on August 2, died in a Mysuru hospital on Thursday night.

Kantharaju’s father, Jayanna, in his complaint to the Konanur police, said Kantharaju had consumed pesticide while he was working at his field. His family had cultivated ginger and jowar. Jayanna had taken loan of over Rs. 5 lakh. Kantharaju was disappointed as the yield was not as expected, owing to lack of rain.

Maruti (25), a farmer, allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide at Kitnur village in Hagari Bommanahalli taluk of Ballari district on Friday. Tambrahalli police, quoting a complaint by his family members, said Maruthi did not own any land nor was he debt-ridden.

He had cultivated sugarcane on 4 acres of land owned by his father. The crop, however, failed owing to lack of rain. A bank loan of Rs. 2 lakh was availed of in the name of his parents.

Two cases reported from Hassan district and one each from Tumakuru, Ballari, and Chikkamagaluru districts