A tribal couple of Simelpali village of Komna block in Nuapada district committed suicide on Saturday evening in their house. They were Jhakar Sabar and his wife Jamuna.
“My parents were worried for last few months due to indebtedness. They were depressed, but I never thought they would take such drastic step,” said Santula, 20-year-old daughter of the couple. Santula found them hanging from the roof when she returned from daily wage work at a nearby village.
“We have three acre of cropland, but there was drought for last two consecutive years. My brother migrated to Rayagada in search of job, and I work in nearby villages whenever work is available,” said Santula.
Santula added that her father incurred loans of about Rs 1 lakh from private sources in last two years for cultivation. As the crop failed, he could not repay the loan even though the family mortgaged the little gold it had,” said she. The Komna police have lodged a case and are investigating the cause of the couple’s suicide.