A 55-year-old farmer of Kulundi village under Jamankira police station in Sambalpur district allegedly committed suicide due to the crop loss and debt burden.
Bhikari Mirig had gone out of his house last evening and his body was found on a farmland of the village this morning, police said.
Bhikari had grown paddy in over four acres of land and he had taken loan of Rs 38,000 from a society besides Rs 20,000 private loan for the cultivation. He had mortgaged one acre of his land for Rs 10,000. He invested all the money in the cultivation, family members said.
"He was expecting to repay the loan after the harvest. But the deficit rainfall took toll on the crop. The crop has completely damaged. He was under severe mental trauma because of the crop-loss and loan burden. He killed himself because of the crop loss and loan burden," said the Bhikari's nephew, Sudhansu Mirig.
Bhikari's wife, Dukhi Mirig, said, "He told me he was going outside in the evening but did not return home."
Kuchinda sub-collector, Deben Kumar Pradhan said, "The Tehesildar has been asked to visit the village. The matter will be inquired and reason behind the incident could be ascertained after the inquiry."
Police said preliminary investigation revealed Bhikari committed suicide by consuming pesticide.
An empty bottle of pesticide was found from near the body.
