Orissa orders probe into two farmers’ suicides
By IANSTuesday, October 13, 2009
BHUBANESWAR - Under pressure from opposition parties, the Orissa government Tuesday ordered a probe into reports of farmers’ suicides in the state.
Orissa Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout has instructed the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), northern range, to file in a day or two a report on the alleged farmers’ suicides after crop loss.
“We have instructed the RDC to inquire into the matter. Since two such incidents have happened - one in Jharsuguda and the other in Sambalpur - we have instructed the RDC to inquire into the matter and send us a report in a day or two,” Rout said.
On Monday, the opposition Congress party demanded a probe by the National Human Rights Commission into the farmers’ suicides.
Meanwhile, two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Orissa were arrested Tuesday for allegedly blackening the face of the deputy director of the state agriculture department, D.C. Pai, Monday for submitting what they said was a false report on farmers’ suicides to the state government.
