Date:03/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/03/stories/2008050355831200.htm

National

Another man falls victim to moneylenders

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: In a stark reminder of the stranglehold of moneylenders, a daily wage earner in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh committed suicide, unable to repay a loan.

It is said that following threats by moneylender Brijendra Singh, Chheetar Singh, 60, of Devrala village sprinkled kerosene on himself and set himself ablaze on Tuesday night. He died of third degree burns. Brijendra Singh is the victim’s cousin and next-door neighbour.

When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar told The Hindu over telephone that Brijendra Singh was arrested and sent to jail on charges of abetting in suicide.

Chheetar Singh took a loan of Rs. 3,000 to marry off his daughter. With interest, the dues mounted to Rs. 20,000.

Mr. Kumar said he took the loan 7-8 eight years ago. “On the fateful night, the victim and his cousin had a few drinks together. This was followed by an altercation over Chheetar Singh’s failure to repay the loan,” the SSP said.

After setting himself on fire at 11 p.m., the victim went up to the doorstep of his cousin and collapsed. Mr. Kumar said that during the altercation, the victim had allegedly threatened to take a drastic step. Chheetar Singh’s son Pappu works as a labourer in Delhi.

As the Minimum Wages Act is not being effectively implemented in Uttar Pradesh and bank loans are still beyond the reach of many, moneylenders are the only hope for daily wage earners and labourers.

The Bulandshahr district police chief admitted that most of the cases of harassment by moneylenders went unreported.