Hubballi: A 44 year-old sugarcane farmer, Sanna Hanumantappa Kuru, in distress in view of mounting debts, committed suicide outside Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Limited, a sugar factory owned by Anand Reddy, president of South Indian Sugar Mills Association (SISMA), at Gangapur village in Mundaragi taluk of Gadag district.
The victim belonged to Tigari village of Koppal district. His kin alleged that the farmer washed down poison outside the sugar factory as he was upset with its management for not dispatching vehicles to transport the cane harvested by him on his four acre plot. His relatives bemoaned the fact that he had borrowed several lakhs of rupees from banks and private money lenders.
The sugar mill used to cut and transport the sugarcane crop on its own from agricultural land of the farmers to the factory. This farmer, however, harvested the crop after the factory reportedly refused to undertake the work. He had supplied part of the crop to the sugar factory by hiring a tractor. “He is not only a poor farmer but also has to take care of a disabled son and four daughters. He met the management of the sugar factory, demanding transportation of the remaining crop. He also faced financial problems to settle the dues of labourers who had harvested the crop. He had borrowed loans to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs from various banks for various reasons including the marriage of his daughters”, Ramanna Kuri, his brother, said.
Mr Anand Reddy, Managing Director, however, claimed that his sugar mill had nothing to do with the suicide of the farmer and his factory had promised to pay the advance payment of Rs 40,000 to him on Monday. “The farmer was in the middle of harvesting the crop. We used to make advance payment to needy farmers though no other factories provided such facility. We have stopped it this year due to financial constraints and farmers also began to misuse it though they have no urgent need. The farmer had a personal loan, and the factory cannot be held responsible for his suicide as we don’t have pending bills of any farmers”, he added.
