A 52-year-old farmer died by suicide at Bandi Thimmanahalli in Alur taluk allegedly unable bear the burden of loans borrowed through self-help groups on Wednesday.

Hemanth was found struggling to breathe around 6.30 a.m on Wednesday. His family members shifted him to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences in Hassan, where he died by 10.15 a.m. He is survived by his wife and two children. The family possessed 15 guntas of land; there was hardly any income from agriculture. He worked in agricultural fields for daily wages.

Hemanth’s son Manjunath filed the complaint with the Alur police, who registered an unnatural death report. According to the complaint, Hemanth and his wife borrowed loans through self-help groups to fulfil the basic needs of the family. Whenever he had no cash to pay the weekly instalments, he borrowed loans from friends and relatives.

(Those in distress and facing suicidal thoughts can call up the State helpline 104 or 14416)