Farmer suicide: Resham was upset over govt attitude

A pall of gloom descended on Pahuwind border village in Tarn Taran district after its native Resham Singh (52) committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance at Shambhu during the farm protest there.

Resham had reportedly taken Rs 8 lakh debt from banks and a cooperative society. He possessed around 2.5 acre land, but had to sell that to clear the dues. At present, he was earning his livelihood by selling milk as he ran a small dairy in the village.

In the morning, reports spread that he had consumed some poisonous substance and his condition was serious. As soon as the news of his death came, villagers started reaching his home to express grief.

Resham’s son Inderjit Singh, who works as a sewadar at a gurdwara in Hoshiarpur, said his father sacrificed his life to express resentment against the indifferent attitude of the government towards protesting farmers’ genuine demands.

He, alongwith his wife Rupinder Kaur and son, rushed back to home after hearing the news. As per information, Resham was an activist of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, and had participated in the 2020 farm morcha too.

Villager Dilbag Singh said, “Resham was depressed over the standoff between the farmers and the Centre.” Farm leader Navtej Singh said Resham had gone to Shambhu on January 6. “Earlier also, he had participated in the morcha thrice. Only God knows what weighed so heavy on his mind this time,” he said.