Ramasamy had taken a loan of Rs 70 lakh from a nationalised bank.
Highlights
- Farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide in Coimbatore
- He took loan of 60 lakhs to set up a farm in 2014, only repaid 6.5 lakhs
- In March, bank officials asked him to repay loan with interest
A 65-year-old farmer in Coimbatore, who had borrowed 70 lakh rupees from a nationalised bank, died on Saturday allegedly after consuming pesticide.
Ramasamy had taken the loan to set up a farm for cultivation of capsicums and tomatoes. He had repaid around Rs. 6 lakh which he borrowed from private lenders.
His family alleged that the bank authorities backtracked on a 50 per cent subsidy and asked him to repay the entire loan.
"My father borrowed six lakhs and repaid the bank. He couldn't mobilise more funds. He was under stress as the bank manager asked him to pay at least some part," his son said.
Police said there could be other reasons for his death, adding that "no suicide note was found near him".
In the last one month, at least four farmers have killed themselves across Tamil Nadu.
Last month, a farmer allegedly consumed pesticide after his tractor was seized by a bank for defaulting on loan.