Debt-ridden farmer commits suicide

Tribune News Service 

Ludhiana, February 21 

A debt-ridden farmer of Galib Kalan village, near Jagraon, killed himself by consuming a poisonous substance at his house past night. The deceased has been identified as Malkiat Singh (55), a resident of Galib Kalan village. The incident came to light this morning when the members of his family found him dead in his room. He is survived by wife and a son. 

Malkiat Singh owned around 2.5 acres of agricultural land. Unable to pay his debt of Rs 7 lakh, Malkiat consumed poisonous substance and died. 

After his death, activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta), along with Malkiat’s body, took out a protest march from the Jagraon bus stand to Civil Hospital. They raised slogans against the state government for failing to keep its promise made with the farmers. While addressing the protesters, Kanwaljit Khanna of the Inqulabi Kendra, Punjab, demanded compensation for Malkiat’s family. 

“After the promise of debt waiver by the state government, he was quite hopeful that his debt would be waived. But he had been quite upset for the past few days as his debt was not waived. He took the extreme step today,” said Hardeep Singh Galib, a farmer union activist. The investigating officer, ASI Sayeed Shaqil, said the police had launched inquest proceedings after registering a case under Section 174 of the CrPC.