Debt-ridden man, son die by suicide in Todarwal village

A tragic tale of financial ruin and personal despair unfolded in Todarwal village near Nabha, where a man and his son took their own lives by hanging after battling years of mounting debt and social isolation.

Beant Singh, 57, and his son Gurveer Singh, 30, were found dead in their one-room house on Wednesday evening. The incident has sent shock waves across the farming community in the region, raising concerns over the long-term repercussions of selling agricultural land without sustainable financial planning.

According to village sarpanch Gurpreet Singh, the incident came to light when one of Beant Singh’s daughters, unable to reach her father and brother after repeated calls, contacted neighbours and urged them to check on the duo. Upon entering the home, villagers discovered the lifeless bodies of Beant and Gurveer.

Beant, once a prosperous farmer, sold 50 bighas of agricultural land in 2007, cashing the sudden rise in real estate prices and paid off the debt. The family left farming in hopes of higher returns from business.

However, the investments failed, draining his savings and leaving him once again in financial distress. With no assets left to sell and deeply in debt, Beant and Gurveer found themselves trapped in a cycle of hopelessness.

Gurveer Singh had also experienced personal turmoil, going through a difficult divorce. The father-son duo lived in virtual seclusion. Locals confirmed that the two had become increasingly withdrawn in recent years.

Police investigations led by Nabha DSP Mandeep Kaur found no signs of foul play. “Preliminary evidence suggests that both were suffering from depression. There are no indications of external involvement,” she stated.

The incident has sparked serious introspection within the farming community. The tragic incident has become a case study for farmer unions leaders, and they have now decided to narrate this story among other farmers to persuade them not to sell of their land until they have a solid backup plan.

“We have seen in Mohali, where many farmers who became rich overnight by selling their land to the builders had invested their money with murky investors or into fly-by-night companies promising unrealistic returns and ultimately ended up losing all their savings,” said Prem Singh Bhangu, president All India Kisan Federation (AIKF).

Punjab