A 47-year-old farmer from Junagadi village under Rajnagar tehsil in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, died of a cardiac arrest on Thursday, with his family alleging that the death was a result of immense stress and harassment during the paddy procurement process.
The farmer, identified as Trilochan Nayak, reportedly developed severe chest pain after returning from a private rice mill late Wednesday night. Though he was rushed to the Iswarpur Public Health Centre (PHC), he was declared dead by the doctors.
The family said the doctors told them Nayak died of cardiac arrest. Nayak is survived by wife and a 19-year-old son.
The family claimed Nayak was forced into a financial crisis after being unable to sell his produce through the local Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) despite holding a valid token.
His brother, Duryadhan, alleged that Nayak was instead directed to a private miller 20 km away, where he spent approximately Rs 18,000 on tractor rentals and unloading fees while waiting for three days.
Furthermore, the family alleged the miller only paid the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 38 out of 52 quintals, leaving him distressed over how to repay his agricultural loans.
The incident has sparked a political row, with the BJD labelling the farmer a ‘victim of government apathy’ and demanding the resignation of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister.
Kendrapara Collector Raghuram R Iyer said that an administrative inquiry is currently underway to verify the family’s claims.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Dangamal PACS has denied any wrongdoing, asserting he never directed the farmer to a private mill.
At a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra demanded the resignation of the state’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister on moral grounds over the farmer’s death.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra has acknowledged the tragedy, stating that an official team will be dispatched to Rajnagar for a thorough investigation.
He assured that strict action would be taken if any negligence or systemic failure is identified.
