Leader of Opposition Hemant Soren on Tuesday visited the family of Lakhan Mahto –a farmer who died under mysterious circumstances in Chanho’s Patratu village after failing to get his payments under a Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme—and demanded immediate suspension of the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO). Soren also demanded strict action against all the officials found guilty of causing the circumstances that lead to Mahto’s death.

“The Government’s apathy towards farmers and grave anomalies in the MGNREGA scheme are forcing farmers to commit suicide. We want immediate action against the ones responsible for Lakhan Mahto’s death and due compensation for his family,” Soren said.

Mahto’s body was fished out of a well, which he had dug under a MGNREGA scheme in his village, on Friday. While the Government, after the initial probe, said that Mahto’s death was an accident, the Opposition parties here suspect that he had committed suicide. 

Mahto had already received Rs 2lakh under the scheme for digging the well, but was running from pillar to post to get the remaining sum of Rs.1 lakh, his family members told the police on the fateful day. Mahto left home to pay a visit to his farm field on Friday morning and went missing. Later, villagers found his body in a well nearby his residence and informed the Chanho Police Station.

“Instead of addressing the issues of several families affected by the anomalies in MGNREGA schemes, the Government is trying to hide its mistakes and issuing vague statements for saving its face,” Soren said.

Soren accused the Government of propagating anti-farmer policies and turning a blind eye to corruption running rampant under its nose. “Lakhan Mahto did not get his share of money despite running from pillar to post.