A farmer in Islampur village, Hukkeri taluk, tragically died by consuming poison after a female moneylender reportedly confined his wife and son in an attempt to recover a loan provided at an excessively high interest rate.
Raju Ramappa Khotagi, a farmer, took a loan of Rs 1.5 lakh from moneylender Siddavva Bayyannavar at a monthly interest rate of 10 percent. He provided her with signed checks as collateral for loan repayment. When the farmer did not maintain enough funds in his bank account for the check to be honored, Siddavva detained the farmer’s wife, Durgavva, and son.
As a result, Khotagi resorted to consuming poison, ultimately ending his life. Superintendent of Police (incharge) B S Nemgouda informed reporters that Durgavva reported her husband’s suicide to the police, attributing it to debt. However, her complaint did not mention the excessively high interest rate or her confinement by Siddavva, along with her son.
Nemgouda stated that they would examine the police’s tardiness in filing the case, and if substantiated, the implicated personnel would be subject to consequences.
The farmer’s suicide case falls within the purview of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. He mentioned that action against the accused would hinge on the investigation’s findings. The Yamakanamaradi police are handling the inquiry.
