another farmer commited suicide in Bolangir

Yet another debt-ridden farmer committed suicide in Keseipali village under Agalpur block of Bolangir district on Thursday. This is 8^th such incident in a row in western Orissa alone in the current kharif session. The recent victim is identified as Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village of Bolangir district. He was rushed to Bolangir hospital where doctors declare him dead. Police registered a case and sent the body for autopsy. This was 8^th farmers of western Orissa to die committing suicide in the current Kharif session

Sources said, deceased Baldev Barik (35) of Keseipali village was a small farmer of the village having only one and half acres of cultivable land of his own. But taking loan from the local cooperative society he cultivated 5 acres of land belongs to other villagers on contract basis. He was having 2 sons and one daughter within 1-6 years of age group. On Thursday early morning he went to his field to see the paddy. Earlier part of his paddy got destroyed due to swarm insects but he managed to kill it by spraying pesticide. But to his bad luck crop again got damaged with the attack of Chakada poka (another type-insect). He could not hold his patience and consumed pesticide to kill self. He informed his family about it.. He was soon taken to Loisingha Hospital and later to Bolangir hospital where he was declared dead. “We brought him to the Loisingha PHC soon he told about consumption of poison, later we took him to the Bolangir where doctors declared him dead”, one of his family members told. “He has taken a loan of Rs.10 thousand from the local cooperative society. So he might have taken such a step to avoid himself from the debt burden”, he added.

Looking to the seriousness of the case, police rushed to the hospital and recovered the dead body Police registered an unnatural death case and handed over the body to his family member on Sunday after conducting autopsy. “We registered a case and handed over the body to his family after autopsy was over”, a senior police officer of the district told.

On the other hand farmers of the district demanded compensation of Rs.5 lakhs to the deceased family and to declare Bolangir as draught hit district. A delegation of farmer led by Sudhir Parichha met the collector and handed over a memorandum to her in support of their demands.

“I have received memorandum from the farmers. I will recommend the government in support of their demand”, collector (Bolangir) Aswasti S told. “However Investigation is on to know the exact cause of committing suicide. Once I receive the report I will send it to the government for the compensation to the deceased family”, Ms Aswasti Told.

It may be mentioned here that on August 12th Pandab Bhoi (38) in Rengali block, on 4th Oct Gourahari Patra (48) in Lakhanpur block, on 7th Oct. Bidyadhar Bagh (40) in Rengali block committed suicide by consuming pesticide. On 18th Oct Angad Barik (65) in Jamenkira block committed suicide by coming under a running train. Like wise Kusha Majhi of Tarbode (Nuapara), Maharshee Narang of Hemgir (Sundergarh) and Kartik Mahakud (60) of Karnapali village (Subarnapur) have committed for the same cause. Another 3 farmers from coastal and southern Orissa had committed suicide over the past on week