A 42-year-old debt-ridden farmer allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree near his farmland in Raisen district late on Tuesday night.
The farmer, Hamir Singh lodhi, ended his life near his farmland in Gopalpur village of the district, Gairatganj police station in-charge Rupesh Dubey said.
The family members said the deceased, a father of five daughters and a son, was reeling under debt and also facing problems in paying his electricity bills. Dubey said lodhi's family members spotted his body hanging from the tree this morning. He was missing since last evening.
"We have registered a case and are investigating to know the reason of his extreme step," Dubey said. On the other hand, Santosh, nephew of the deceased, said his uncle had taken loans from banks and private money-lenders but was unable to repay them.
lodhi had pending electricity bills against his name and also faced crop loss, he said, adding, "Officials of the (State-run) power company were pressurising him to pay the electricity dues. A couple of days back, the company officials disconnected power line from his farmland. Besides, he was tense due to crop loss," he said.
After the alleged suicide came to light, villagers, family members and local Congress leaders staged a protest at the tehsil office demanding action against officials of the power company.
Meanwhile, Gairatganj Sub-Divisional Magistrate KR Chowkikar said, "The family of the deceased would be provided financial assistance in accordance with the rules."