In a heart-wrenching incident, Mukundan R (38), a ginger cultivator originally from Maduvan Theravamba village in Kerala’s Gudalur taluk, died by suicide after slitting his throat in Bhogeshwar Colony village, where he had been farming for the past 18 years on leased land.
On Friday night, Mukundan spoke to his mother over the phone, expressing his desire to return to Kerala and stating he would send his brother back the next morning. The next day, he was seen working with fellow Keralites Ravi and Babu on the farm before retreating alone to the shed around noon.
Tragedy struck when Ravi and Babu heard distressing screams from the shed. They discovered Mukundan gravely injured, having slit his throat with a sharp knife. Alarmed, they alerted his brother and rushed him to the H.D. Kote Government Hospital with help from locals. Despite prompt efforts, Mukundan succumbed to his injuries.
His brother, Manikanth, informed the police that Mukundan had been struggling with mental health issues, and the act was a result of his prolonged emotional distress.
Following the complaint, H.D. Kote Sub-Inspector Chikkanayak registered a case and launched an official investigation. Authorities are now urging greater awareness and support mechanisms for mental health issues among agricultural workers, who often work in isolation and under economic strain.