Two more debt-ridden distressed farmers have reportedly committed suicide in Sambalpur and Angul districts in the State.
Bhikari Mirig, a resident of Kulundi Chamarpara village under Jamanakira block in Sambalpur district, ended life by drinking pesticide.
The family members found Mirig’s body along with an empty bottle of pesticide lying nearby in his field on Saturday morning. After being informed, senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari rushed to the village and met the family of the deceased.
Mirig had reportedly taken loan from private moneylenders and also from a bank for cultivation.
In the other incident, a farmer identified as Narendra Kumar Sahoo also committed suicide by consuming poison on Friday night in Angul district.
Narendra, a resident of Sankhapur village under the Bantala police station, had taken loan from banks and private moneylenders for agriculture and family maintenance purposes.
As the crops were damaged due to the scanty rainfall, he lost mental balance and consumed poison.
However, with the rising number of farmer suicides, the State Government is still in a denial mode.