As farmer suicides have created a shockwave across the State with about five farmers having ended their lives in Kendrapada alone, a moneylender was arrested by Pattamundai police whereas a case was registered against another at Aul for lending money without possessing valid licences and also for charging high rates of interest.
The arrested was identified as Sanjeev Kar of Pokharipada village under Pattamundai police station, whereas a case was registered against Mahendra Bal at Aul police station based on an FIR of one Gautam Ray of Aul, Pattamundai SDPO Kedarnath Sahu informed. Bal had provided a sum of `1.5 lakh at high interest to Goutam Ray three years back. Though Goutam had provided `2 lakh to him, but the money lender allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh more. Helpless, Ray lodged an FIR.
The district police have launched a drive to crack down on the local moneylenders who are unathorisedly giving money to the poor on excess interest rates.