The Hindu : Suicide cases being probed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Suicide cases being probed

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Sept. 9. The Development Commissioner of the Karnataka Government, Vijay Gore, told presspersons that the Karnataka Government was investigating the death of 63 farmers while in 23 cases of suicide compensation of Rs. 1 lakh had been paid. In another 20 cases, payment of compensation was being considered as additional information was yet to be received.

He said of the 208 cases of suicide by farmers reported in the State since April, 156 cases were taken up for investigation and after inquiry, 93 cases were rejected. Most of the farmers ended their lives as they were reportedly unable to repay agricultural loans.

Six more farmers end life

Meanwhile, six cases of farmers — two each in Mandya, Hassan, and Belgaum districts — committing suicide have been reported in the last 24 hours taking the number of such cases to 105 since August 1.

Somashekarappa (55), son of Marulappa of Bendekere village in Banavara hobli of Arsikere taluk, reportedly committed suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday.

According to a complaint filed with Banavara Police, he had taken a hand loan of Rs. 70,000 to cultivate his 2.38 acre land. The crop reportedly failed.

Chandrappa (60), son of Somaiah in Hosundihalli village in Arsikere taluk, reportedly committed suicide by consuming poison the same day. He is said to have borrowed Rs. 15,000 from a nationalised bank and Rs. 56,000 from a private moneylender.

According to complaint filed with the Arsikere Police, he committed suicide as he was unable to repay the loan.

Rajaram, son of Bikku Jyotiba Jaligar, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death at his home in Telsang village of Athani taluk in Belgaum district on Monday.

According to sources in the Tahsildar's Office, Athani, Rajaram (25) was under pressure as his family could not repay loans raised from cooperative societies and a private moneylender. His father is said to have taken loan from a cooperative society. He had also raised Rs. 10,000 from another cooperative society besides Rs. 10,000 from a private moneylender from Kokatnur village in Athani taluk.

According to delayed reports reaching Belgaum district headquarters, a farmer, Erappa Kalyanappa Hasbi (79) of Muglihal village in Murgod Police limits allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. Murgod Police have registered a case under Section 174 of Cr.PC and are investigating. Police told The Hindu that Hasbi (79), a freedom fighter, owned 27 acres of land and had raised a hand loan of Rs. 1.09 lakhs from a relative to clear loans he had taken from a cooperative society for purchasing a tractor and digging a borewell in his field.

He had purchased the tractor, but the borewell did not yield water and the money invested turned out to be a loss.

In Mandya district, Shankaregowda (32) of Arechakanahalli in Maddur taluk and Puttaswamy (42), alias Hanumegowda of Biddarahalli of the same taluk, reportedly committed suicide by hanging themselves to death. Shankaregowda is said to have taken a loan of Rs. 70,000, while Puttaswamy had reportedly taken Rs. 62,000 as loan from private moneylenders.

`Malicious'

The Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, who heads the Cabinet Subcommittee on drought, has said that the Opposition parties were attempting to derive political mileage by raising the issue.

He said their effort was aimed at diverting the attention of the people from the good work done by the S.M. Krishna Government. The Opposition had been referring to the suicide by farmers with an eye on the Assembly election.

Mr. Kharge said the campaign by the Opposition parties was malicious and they would stand exposed soon. The people were aware of the efforts of the Government towards their welfare.

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