Karnataka   

Farmer’s suicide leads to protest in front of ICICI Bank

MYSORE: Negligence on the part of ICICI Bank in heeding the warning issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) against adopting ‘abusive practices’ to recover farm loans, has proved costly to the bank. Farmers took up the suicide of Hospura farmer, H.M. Manjunath, seriously and launched a series of protests in front of the bank.

The reported ‘method’ adopted by ICICI Bank, Mysore, to recover the loan from Manjunath is said to have forced him to commit suicide on December 4.

According to Nanjangud Rurual Police, Manjunath had borrowed Rs. 5.5 lakh from ICICI Bank to purchase a tractor a year ago. The repayment was to be made in half-yearly instalments of Rs. 48,000. Accordingly, Manjunath had paid the first instalment of Rs. 48,000 fully. Of his second instalment, Rs. 8,000 was pending. Last Tuesday, bank officials went to Manjunath’s house to recover the amount. Manjunath requested some time to clear the remaining amount. However, officials humiliated him in public and also seized his tractor, leaving behind the trailer. An insulted Manjunath consumed poison, leaving behind a note holding the officials responsible for his death. Nanjangud Police sent a letter to bank officials seeking an explanation. The bank refused to comment on the issue.

The local people say that the notice sent by the bank was received by Manjunath on December 3. Bank officials seized the tractor, without providing him an opportunity the very next day, on December 4. Condemning the incident and demanding justice, the local people sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Governor, the Union Finance Minister, the Reserve Bank of India and the Deputy Commissioner, Mysore.

Protesting against the alleged ‘harassment’ by the bank in recovering the loan, farmers, led by President of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) K.S. Puttannaiah, noted writer and President of Sarvodaya Karnataka Party, Devanuru Mahadeva and Kannada activist B.A. Shivashankar, took out a procession in the city and stormed the ICCI Bank on Ramavilas Road. Earlier, they had held a meeting in Puttanchetty Town Hall and held the bank responsible for the suicide.

Kuruburu Shanthakumar, President, State Sugarcane Growers’ Association (SSGA), Shivanna, Chamarajanagar MP, and former Minister M. Mahadev also conducted a dharna in front of the bank and demanded an explanation from the bank. Delay by the bank authorities to meet the agitators enraged the assembled farmers and they tried to enter the premises of the bank. However, police blocked their entry. Bank authorities told the elected representatives that they have informed the head office about the incident and were waiting for a direction.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Historic moves come ‘alive’
I will talk to Prakash, says Siddaramaiah
Farmers protest against eviction
State accused of ‘resuming work’ on Kalasa projects
Project to protect beaches
Congress blamed for early elections
Spreading the message
I’ve got a little list…
Prakash: no rapprochement with Gowda
Snap polls unlikely, says Sinha
Two killed in road accident
‘Kailasa samaradhane’
Farmer’s suicide leads to protest in front of ICICI Bank
Water adalat
Call centre training
‘New pension scheme aimed at equity market’
5.5 lakh property in Bangalore illegal

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu