A debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Saturday evening. His son, who also attempted to kill self, was admitted to VSS Medical College and Hospital, Burla, in a critical condition.
The deceased was identified as Bijay Thapa, 50, of Deogarhtikira village, on the outskirts of Bargarh town. He had taken a loan of around Rs one lakh from a cooperative society and other sources to cultivate his 3-acre land. But his crop was damaged in Phailin and heavy rain in October.
The family was under mental stress due to the loan. There was a verbal duel between the father and the son and both consumed pesticide out of frustration.
“We have registered a case and handed over the body to his relatives after postmortem,” said SDPO (Bargarh) Amarendra Rana.
