Farmer attempts suicide in front of collector's office in Odisha

A farmer today tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide in front of Bargarh district collector's office here while taking part in a protest, officials said.

The 55-year-old farmer had taken a loan of Rs 30,000 and his standing crop was damaged in a hailstorm on April 30, villagers said.

Akrura Bishi of Kanbar village in Barpali block came here to take part in a dharna of farmers who were demanding compensation for crop loss due to the unseasonal rain and hailstorm, officials said.

After Akrura drank pesticide, other farmers present there took him to the district headquarters hospital here.

Akrura was later shifted to the Veer Sunrendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in neighbouring Sambalpur district, officials said.

District Collector Indramani Tripathy said, "The suicide attempt took place before I went to meet them. It is an unfortunate incident."
Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, "I will order an inquiry into the farmer's attempt to commit suicide. The government is sympathetic towards affected farmers."
The district collector said, "The farmers had come here on May 1 and demanded compensation for crop loss."