Highlights
- Tamil Nadu farmer dies after allegedly consuming pesticide
- Hours earlier, bank seized farmer's tractor after he defaulted on a loan
- Farmer borrowed Rs 7 lakh from a bank in 2013, had returned Rs 5 lakh
A farmer in Tamil Nadu has died allegedly after he consumed pesticide hours after his tractor was seized by a bank for defaulting on loan.
A Alagar had reportedly borrowed seven lakh rupees from a private bank in Trichy in 2013. He now owed it around two lakhs. On Thursday, the bank took away his tractor saying he had failed to pay the due amount.
Hours later, he was rushed to a nearby private hospital. Local farmers say he had consumed pesticide. He died the next day. The family performed his last rites without informing the police.
Locals in Orathur village in Ariyalur district say Alagar's family was reportedly upset with him as his father had helped him with money to settle the loan, but he used it for some other work.
Senior police officials say they would register a case against the doctor who treated him as he failed to inform the police about the case.
Just a few days ago, another farmer in Tamil Nadu who had defaulted on his tractor loan due to a failed crop
was assaulted by police. The incident was captured on camera by a witness. The policemen have been transferred.
After NDTV reported the case on Thursday,
Tamil actor Karunakaran tweeted to say he wanted to help the farmer, G Balan. On Friday, he transferred Rs 1,30,000, the amount he owed the bank, in the farmer's bank account.
Mr Balan's wife, B Keerthana had said, "We borrowed Rs. 3.4 lakh in 2011 and have already paid Rs. 4.1 lakhs including interest. Due to a failed crop we couldn't pay the pending last two instalments. Vijay Mallaya owes hundreds of crore, he's let off. We poor farmers are harassed".
The liquor baron was granted huge loans by many state-run banks without adequate security for his Kingfisher Airlines even though it was clear the company was collapsing under the weight of its own extravagances. The government acknowledged last week that while banks had asked the Supreme Court to ban the 60-year-old from leaving India, he had travelled abroad.