Farmer dies after participating in crop loan waiver protest

Trichy: A 71-year-old farmer from Nagapattinam district died after he returned home from a protest organised by various farmers’ associations in Chennai, seeking the state govt to completely waive all cooperative farm loans.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss condoled his death, and claimed that the farmer died due to the distress as he could not benefit from the loan waiver.The deceased was T Somasundaram from Pirinjimoolai village near Thalainayar. He obtained ₹85,000 loan from a cooperative society bank for paddy cultivation last season. Villagers said Somasundaram was distressed after the state govt waived off farm loans with a ceiling at ₹75,000.On Saturday, Somasundaram took part in a protest organised by Cauvery delta farmers associations in Chennai. He returned to his village by bus on Sunday morning. Soon after reaching home, he developed chest pain and collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Sources said the farmer was taking medications for hypertension.Following his death, various farmers’ bodies urged TVK govt to waive all cooperative farm loans. Anbumani sought a compensation of ₹25 lakh for Somasundaram ’s family.