Madhya Pradesh: Debt-ridden farmer commits suicide

A debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by hanging himself in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on June 22.

The farmer was disturbed due to the debt that he owed to a person named Shankar Udayniya. 

In the suicide note left behind by the farmer before committing suicide, it was revealed that Shankar was troubling the farmer even after paying the debt. 

Reportedly, the total number of farmer suicides has risen to 17 since the protests started in Mandsaur by farmers on June 6, in Madhya Pradesh. 

On June 16, a 55-year-old debt ridden farmer, Kalla, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Shivpuri after being unable to pay off his loan of Rs. 40,000.

The villagers somehow managed to collect money for his cremation as his own family did not have enough money to do so.

On June 17, a 40-year-old farmer, Jagdish Mori, committed suicide by consuming poison allegedly due to being under debt in Dhar. 

The recent suicides have come in the wake of the farmers' agitation in Mandsaur.

Mandsaur became the epicentre of the farmers' agitation over a demand for loan waivers and better prices for their produce. 

Drawing criticism from political parties, 6 farmers were gunned down by the police during the agitation.

This situation forced the district officials to impose Section 144, and restricted prominent personalities from visiting the violence-hit district.

Political leaders including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other social activists tried to visit Mandsaur but were denied entry to the area by the police.

Prior to Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan's visit to the families of the deceased farmers, Section 144 was revoked.