Debt forces 3 farmers to end life

Tribune Reporters

Amritsar/Muktsar/moga, July 24

Perturbed over rising debt, three more farmers reportedly committed suicide in three separate incidents.

In the first case, Major Singh (42) of Teda Kalan village in Ajnala ended his life by consuming some poisonous substance. A suicide note was also found from the spot in which he had accused the Punjab Government of not fulfilling its promise.

He alleged that though the government had announced to waive the farm loan, it was not happening and the debt was rising due to heavy interest rates. He said he was unable to repay the debt and hence decided to end his life.

Sucha Singh, brother of the deceased, said his brother had 2.5 acres, while he had a debt of nearly Rs 10 lakh.

In another case, a 55-year-old farmer of Bhullar village near Muktsar allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a canal two days ago. The body of Balwinder Singh was recovered from the Sotha headworks last evening.

Gursher Singh, brother of deceased, said Balwinder was upset due to his debt of nearly Rs 3 lakh. “He owned just two acres and taken loan of Rs 3 lakh. Balwinder was perturbed when his son could not get job in a company. He had gone missing from the house on Friday,” said Gursher.

In another such incident, a 33-year-old farmer committed suicide by consuming poison at Manuke village in Nihalsinghwala subdivision of Moga today.

He owned 1.5 acres at Himmatpura and 2 acres at Manuke village. Identified as Basant Singh, the deceased farmer consumed poison in the afternoon and died within a couple of hours.

His wife Beant Kaur told the police that her husband owed Rs 5 lakh to the Bank of India, Rs 1.5 lakh to a local commission agent and Rs 33,000 to the village cooperative society.

AAPMLA Manjit Singh has sought waiving of the entire loan of the deceased farmer and also a government job to one of his family members.

Govt accused of not keeping its word

In his suicide note, an Ajnala farmer accused the Punjab Government of not fulfilling its promise. He alleged that though the government had announced to waive the farm loan, it was not implemented.

Book Manpreet for abetting suicide: Sukhbir 

Chandigarh: SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday said Finance Minister Manpreet Badal should be booked for abetting suicide of the Ajnala farmer. He also demanded that the Punjab government and the Congress be made party in the case. TNS