Tension prevailed at Tarbha in Subarnapur district as Congress activists blocked the National Highway in protest against suicide of a farmer due to crop loss and loan burden.
The deceased was identified as Goutam Bagarti of Purunapani village.
Bagarti, a resident of Purunapani village under Tarbha block, died while being taken to the Balangir District Headquarters Hospital on Saturday.
Sources said Bagarti had cultivated paddy but suffered a heavy loss due to lack of proper irrigation facilities. He failed to repay loans and was under pressure.
Irate over the incident, local Congress activists blocked the NH near Tarbha Namasthe gate demanding compensation for the kin of the deceased. Former Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja blamed the State Government for Bagarthi’s death stating that the Government has failed to solve farmers’ problemsm.