Belagavi, 17 FEB

In yet another tragic incident, a man from Raibag town in Belagavi district ended his life, allegedly due to relentless harassment by private money lenders and financial institutions.

According to the Medico Legal Case (MLC) report from Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS), Basavaraj Hatti was admitted on 11 February after consuming poison. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed on Sunday night.

Basavaraj’s wife, in her complaint to the Raibag police, blamed the persistent pressure from private lenders and microfinance institutions for her husband’s death. She alleged that the loan recovery staff repeatedly harassed him, demanding repayment of Rs 2.5 lakh, which he had taken under a weekly installment scheme. The threats of confiscating household belongings if payments were missed only worsened his distress.

Basavaraj’s death marks the fourth such suicide in Belagavi district within a month.

To curb such tragic incidents and address the growing concerns over microfinance harassment, the Karnataka government enforced a new ordinance on 12 February. The law mandates up to 10 years of imprisonment for loan lenders violating the prescribed norms.