A 64-year-old Chhattisgarh farmer died by suicide after consuming poison on Saturday in Raipur district. He left a suicide note accusing the local revenue officials of injustice, resulting in encroachment of his land. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident and the accused Patwari and Tehsildar have been suspended and sent on a punishment posting respectively.
“The suicide note said his land was encroached upon and it named three people, including a tehsildar. Initial probe has found that he had taken a loan from a moneylender and was being pressured over repayment,” a Kharora police station official said.
Raipur superintendent of police Ajay Yadav said the farmer allegedly consumed poison at his home in Morena village on June 12 and was found dead on Monday. He added that the tehsildar’s role will be investigated.
District collector Saurabh Kumar said the farmer’ death was related to his land dispute with the village Kotwar—a government messenger deputed in villages.
“In May 2020, the issue was taken to the revenue court. In tehsildar’s court... the farmer was found guilty of encroaching on Kotwar’s land. The tehsildar passed an order for demarcation last year in May itself. However, fifteen days ago, Kotwar again accused the farmer of encroachment. This time, however, no revenue officials were involved,” said the collector.
He said the deceased farmer never filed a review petition against the 2020 demarcation ruling by the tehsildar, however, the administration has attached him to the district headquarters to ensure a fair probe into the case.
{{/usCountry}}He said the deceased farmer never filed a review petition against the 2020 demarcation ruling by the tehsildar, however, the administration has attached him to the district headquarters to ensure a fair probe into the case.
{{/usCountry}}“The patwari who was tasked with [the] demarcation has been suspended and the additional collector has been put in-charge of the inquiry,” Kumar added.