Farmer Kills Kin, Self As Demonetisation Hits Land Rates

Hyderabad: A farmer and his father died while his wife and son were hospitalised after they consumed food laced with pesticide in Siddipet district amid reports he was worried over fall in rate of his land in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Balaiah (45) on Tuesday night allegedly mixed pesticide in curry and chapatis, which he ate along with his father Galaiah (65), wife Lakshmi and son Prashant, a B.Tech student, at their residence in Dharmaram village, police said.

"After some time all of them complained of ill health and Balaiah died on the spot while Galaiah died on the way to a hospital. Balaiah's wife and son, who were not aware that pesticide was mixed in food, are undergoing treatment at a hospital," said Dubbak police station Circle Inspector Niranjan.

Balaiah, who owns around six acres of agriculture land, wanted to sell it and initially he was told that it will fetch Rs 6-7 lakh per acre, but suddenly in the last couple of days he was told that the rates had drastically come down to Rs 2-3 lakh per acre. The farmer had taken loans and in view of the sudden fall in the market rates of land he got worried on how to pay back the debts and discussed the same with his father on Tuesday before resorting to the extreme step, he said quoting the complaint lodged by the 16-year-old daughter of the deceased.

Circle Inspector Niranjan

After some time all of them complained of ill health and Balaiah died on the spot while Galaiah died on the way to a hospital. Balaiah’s wife and son, who were not aware that pesticide was mixed in food, are undergoing treatment at a hospital

As per the complaint, Balaiah's family was facing financial problems. Accordingly, police have registered a case under section 174 CrPC and further investigation is underway. However, some villagers alleged that in view of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 tenders, the market rates of land had come down and there was a talk that no one would pay big amount to purchase the land, the inspector said.

He, however, clarified that Balaiah's daughter did not mention so in the complaint. We will record the statements of Lakshmi and Prashant also, the police officer added.