Farmer found dead in water-filled pit after going missing for two days
The body of a farmer was found in a water-filled pit near a railway line on Friday, two days after he went missing, police said.
The farmer was identified as Dharmendra Kumar. His family claimed that he died by suicide because of financial difficulties and damage to his paddy crop. Police, however, said the exact cause of death would be determined after the investigation is completed.
Pilibhit District Magistrate Gyanendra Singh told PTI that, according to the information received, Dharmendra had consumed alcohol before entering a pond to collect lotus seeds and drowned.
Singh said there appeared to be no basis for the family's suspicion, while adding that the investigation was still underway.
Station House Officer of Neuria, Digambar Singh, said Dharmendra's body had been sent for post-mortem examination.
According to his family, Dharmendra left home on Wednesday evening saying that he was going to check his fields. When he failed to return, the family lodged a missing person's report.
The family said they depend on daily-wage labour for their livelihood and that Dharmendra had been worried after their paddy crop was damaged. (with inputs from PTI)
