Six more farmers commit suicide

Six cases of farmers’ suicides were reported in the State in the last 24 hours.

Annappa Salagar (55) of Ainapur village at Chincholi taluk in Kalaburagi district allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide after he was depressed with the withering red gram crop in his 15 acres farm. Annappa had availed himself a loan of Rs. 50,000 from the cooperative society and Rs. 3 lakh from moneylenders.

Another debt-ridden farmer, Shankar Maindaragi (60), ended his life by hanging himself in his field at Sarasamba village in Aland taluk in Kalaburagi district. He had taken loans up to Rs. 4.5 lakh and owned seven acres.

Two in Mandya

Siddaraju (45) was found hanging at his residence in Machahalli of Mandya taluk on Saturday, while the decomposed body of Channe Gowda of Siddapura was found near his village in Srirangapatna on Sunday. Both farmers had been cultivating sugarcane and had taken loans. They were distressed due to mounting debts and crop loss, the police said.

One case in Tumakuru

A 55-year-old farmer, who consumed poison on Saturday, died on Sunday at Basavamathikere in Kunigal taluk of Tumakuru district. The police said Shivaramaiah (55) had 58 guntas of land and was cultivating red gram and had 20 coconut trees. He had taken Rs. 3 lakh loan from moneylenders.

Another farmer from Kaaduramanahalli in Kunigal taluk is battling for life at Adichunchungiri hospital after he allegedly consumed poison on Saturday.

Hassan

Basavaraju (45) ended his life by hanging in his farm at Kallashettihalli in Belur taluk on Sunday. Relatives said that he was depressed after his ginger and maize crop was affected by disease. Basavaraju had taken Rs. 1 lakh from Canara Bank and Rs. 3 lakh from moneylenders.