Debt-ridden farmer commits suicide in MP

A debt-ridden farmer in MP’s Tikamgarh district committed suicide on Tuesday evening due to crop loss.

Drought in Bundelkhand coupled with crop failure over the last few years has sparked a spree of suicides by debt-ridden farmers in the region.

Since October 2015, 40 farmers have committed suicide due to crop loss and inability to repay loan in five districts of Bundelkhand (Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Chhattarpur and Panna). These districts received below average rainfall.

Police said Kalla Raikwar, 42, committed suicide by consuming pesticide at his farmland in Khiston Hal village.

Raikwar was under pressure from moneylenders to repay loan. His wife Bhori was suffering from the last stage of mouth cancer.

He had 2.5 acres farm and had taken 5 acres farmland on contract.

Raikwar had also taken a loan from local moneylenders for treatment of his wife and agriculture purpose.

Sources said the interest plus the loan had reached `1.5 lakh, and he wanted to repay the loan with a good kharif crop but his hopes were shattered due to crop failure. Rabi crops also failed.

Prithvipur police station officer LP Yadav said police lodged a case and were investigating it.