Farmer harassed by bank manager commits suicide

Police said the deceased, Vembu Krishnan, left behind a suicide note stating that he was unable to withstand the harassment by a bank manager to repay the farm loan and hence was ending his life.

On the fateful night, Krishnan of Keezha Pillaiyarkulam had returned from the Manur branch of Indian Overseas Bank. Upset over the treatment that was meted out to him at the bank, Krishnan consumed poison. Little before dinner, the son noticed Krishnan lying unconscious and frothing from the mouth. 

Immediately, he rushed his father to Tirunelveli general hospital, where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’. 

On information, police reached the house and during investigations they found a suicide note left behind by Krishnan. As per the note, Krishnan had obtained a loan to install drip irrigation system in his farm in 2007 and was promptly repaying it. However, he stopped working due to poor health and employed labourers to work in his farm. 

Meanwhile, when the debt amount was Rs 90,000, Krishnan obtained another loan of Rs 50,000 by pledging his wife’s jewels in April 2016. However, the bank manager took the money as portion of repayment for the crop loan balance and refused to return the jewels. 

In the note, Krishnan concluded claiming that the manager verbally abused and asked him to leave the branch when he sought six months to repay the entire loan amount. Police have registered a case under Section 306 of the IPC against the bank manager. 

While the mercury level was soaring high, Tiruchy witnessed a mild shower from Wednesday night but it has only increased the heat. 

According to the weather data, the entire district received a total of 30.55 mm rainfall. Only few places experienced good rainfall, among them the Golden rock region with the maximum rainfall of 13.80 mm while Navalur Kuttapattu received 10.20 mm rain. Except them most of the other areas remained dry and the mercury level was too high.