3 days ago
Farmer dies by suicide, family blames crop failure
Balangir: A 46-year-old farmer died on Thursday after allegedly consuming poison with family members blaming crop failure and mounting debt for his death. The incident occurred in Kandara village under Titilagarh block of Balangir district.
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The deceased, Durga Charan Bhoi, had been under severe mental stress after failing to repay multiple loans, his family claimed.
Bhoi allegedly took pesticide on Wednesday afternoon. Family members found him unconscious behind their house and took him to Sindhekela hospital, before he was shifted to Titilagarh hospital. As his condition worsened, he was moved to the district headquarters hospital in Bhawanipatna, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Bhaskar Bhoi, the deceased's cousin, said, "My brother had borrowed over Rs 2 lakh from various self-help groups and banks for paddy and cotton cultivation. Crop failure made repayment impossible."
Bhoi had cultivated paddy on 3 acres and cotton on 2 acres of land. Family members claimed the crops got damaged due to scanty rainfall.
On Thursday, police launched a probe while senior revenue and agriculture officials met the bereaved family. The administration provided Rs 10,000 as immediate assistance and promised additional compensation as per govt provisions.
Titlagarh tehsildar Subhashis Satapathy said, "We will conduct a thorough ground inquiry and take appropriate action based on our findings."
