Karnataka: Farmer Commits Suicide Ahead Of CM’s Visit To Mandya; Protests All Across The District

On Friday (23 November), news broke out that a farmer had committed suicide in the agricultural heartland of Mandya, located in southern part of the state of Karnataka. This belt also happens to be a stronghold of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress.

On the same day, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had scheduled a visit to Shivalli, a village in Dudda Hobli in the district. Soon after news of the suicide was out, hundreds of farmers gathered around in protest across the district against Kumaraswamy. As a result of the police action against them, several farmers have been taken into custody.

Jayakumar (43) was battling cancer and had borrowed Rs 2 lakh, meant both for agricultural purposes and health ailment. He is reportedly a resident of Kannahatti.

Deccan Herald reported that a case, however, has not been registered as yet. While locals are not allowing the body to be taken away, they demand that the Mandya in-charge Minister, C S Puttaraju, visit the location and talk to them to arrive at a solution to the agrarian crisis in the state.