Cooch Behar, April 3 -- The alleged suicide of a farmer in Cooch Behar after suffering heavy losses in potato cultivation has triggered concern in the area. The incident took place on Friday at Bhag Moda in the Mathabhanga block. The deceased has been identified as Kailash Sheel Sharma (38).
According to police sources, Sharma's body was found hanging a short distance from his house on Friday morning. Personnel from Mathabhanga Police Station reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death.
Local residents said Sharma had cultivated potatoes on nearly two and a half acres of land this season. However, continuous rainfall over the past few days reportedly damaged the entire crop, leaving him in severe financial distress. He had taken loans for cultivation and was under pressure following the losses.
Family members claimed that he had been mentally disturbed in recent days due to mounting debt and uncertainty over repayment. His brother, Hareshwar Sheel Sharma, said: "He had taken a loan for potato farming this year, but the rains destroyed everything. He was very worried."
On Friday morning, a family member discovered him hanging near the farmland, not far from their residence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.