Debt row: Farmer commits suicide

Gonikoppa: Unable to bear the burden of debt a farmer committed suicide by jumping in to the rivulet in Tuchamakeri in South of Kodagu. The deceased has been identified as Pemmanda Prabhu Karumbayya (55). He has been survived by wife and two children.

It is said that the deceased had borrowed huge amount of money for higher rate of interest. But was unable to repay the money on time and faced the ire of the lenders. This forced him to take the extreme step. On Monday he jumped into the nearby pond and ended his life. A death note was recovered in his house.

DySP Kumarachandra and other police officials visited the spot and lifted the body from the pond with the help of the divers. Locals have demanded strict action against the illegal money lenders.