Shankar Abanrao Kshirsagar allegedly took the extreme step on Monday at his field in Borgaon village. In a video clip uploaded online before his death, he questioned why he had not received government relief despite his soybean crop being destroyed by drought.
According to police, Kshirsagar cultivated soybeans on his small plot of land and had hoped for a good harvest. However, the crop was ruined after a prolonged period without rainfall, leaving him facing financial difficulties.
The farmer was also worried about his daughter’s education expenses, as she is pursuing medical studies. Although the government had announced fee concessions for children of drought-affected farmers, his daughter’s medical college fees were not waived despite his application, according to the police account.
Bodhankar, an assistant police inspector at Limbgaon Police Station, said Kshirsagar was under considerable stress because of the crop loss, mounting debt and the expenses associated with his daughter’s education.
On Monday afternoon, Kshirsagar went to his field, recorded a video on his mobile phone and uploaded it to social media. After the video surfaced, his relatives and the police began searching for him.
The police officer said that when the police reached the location, Kshirsagar was found hanging from a noose in the field.
In the video, Kshirsagar made an emotional appeal to the district collector, questioning why he had not benefited from any loan waiver scheme and why his daughter’s medical college fees had not been waived despite submitting an application.
His death has brought attention to the financial distress he reportedly faced following the destruction of his soybean crop, his outstanding debt and the unresolved issue of his daughter’s medical education fees. His appeal to the authorities, recorded shortly before his death, detailed the difficulties he said he was experiencing.
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