Mysuru/Koppal/Chitradurga: Making a mockery of the state government’s efforts to placate farmers by offering them incentives, five farmers killed themselves in Karnataka on Friday while one is battling for life. Ironically, three of the suicides happened in Mysuru on a day when Mysuru Zilla Panchayat and department of information hosted an interaction with progressive farmers on countering increasing farmer suicides.
In Moodlukoplu in Hunsur taluk, 45-year-old Sannannaswamygowda, son of Kaalauchchegowda, ended his life by consuming pesticide. He is survived by his wife Renuka and three daughters. He owned three acres of land and grew tobacco. According to a complaint by his wife, he had borrowed a loan of Rs 85,000 from a public sector bank. Overburdened by the loan, he took the extreme step, police said.
Fifty-year-old Mahadevanayka, son of Ninganayka, a native of Hura in Nanjangud taluk reportedly attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison on Wednesday and died at KR Hospital in Mysuru on Friday. He is survived by wife Mahadevamma and three children. He owned 2 acres of land and was cultivating cotton. According to a complaint by his wife, he had Rs 2-3 lakh loan.
Hunsur witnessed a second suicide with 35-year-old farmer, Swamy Gowda, a native of Kempammana hosur committing suicide by hanging himself. He ended his life reportedly due to a family dispute. No complaint has been filed so far.
35-year-old Sangappa, son of Chandrappa, a native of Channasoge attempted suicide Wednesday evening by consuming poison and is battling for life in a private hospital in Mysuru. He owns five acres and had a Rs 8 lakh loan.
Unpaid debts killed two farmers in Koppal and Chitradurga on Friday. 60-year old Shekharagouda Salamaralli, a farmer from Siddapur village in Gangavati taluk of Koppal ended his life by consuming poison. He was cultivating five acres of leased land and had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from a moneylender.
In Punajur village of Chitradurga, 38-year-old Rangappa committed suicide by consuming poison. He had taken Rs 2 lakh loan for from a money lender and was unable to repay it.
Stop shedding crocodile tears: Kodihalli Chandrashekhar
Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekhar has asked political leaders to stop shedding crocodile tears over the plight of farmers and instead develop self-confidence in them through constructive measures.
Mr Chandrashekhar regretted that when farmer suicides were happening, politicians were involved in the shameful act of taking photos along with the bereaved family. They should try to find the reasons for these unnatural deaths and come up with remedies, he urged.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says no one in the state should die of starvation, but the wrong policies are pushing farmers to kill themselves. The anti-farmer policies of the central and the state governments are responsible for the suicides”, he alleged.
