Chhattisgarh farmer’s suicide note alleges injustice by revenue officer

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.

Published on: Jun 15, 2021, 11:45:48 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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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 Chhattisgarh farmer’ death was related to a land dispute with the village Kotwar. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“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.

“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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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