The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary over suicide of a farmer in Baleswar district.
Acting on a complaint of human rights activist Akhand, the commission has directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report on the matter within four weeks.
The complainant alleged that, lakhmidhar Pradhan (40) had committed suicide at Sitapur village of Pakhar gram panchayat under Soro block on November 20 last year as he reportedly failed to repay Rs 30,000 which he had borrowed from locals.
The petitioner alleged that he was forced to commit suicide as his crops were damaged after the field remained submerged for several days following cyclone Phailin that hit the State’s coast on October 12 last year and the subsequent floods.
The petitioner prayed the commission for a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of deceased and order for appropriate steps to avoid such type of incidents in future.