Chitoor: Pressure to pay property tax by the Punganaru civic body officials led a person to commit suicide at Punganaru in Chittoor district on Sunday. The municipal staff placed a garbage- laden tractor in front of the house and publicly announced about auctioning valuables to recover the outstanding tax of Rs 4 lakhs.

Unable to bear the humiliation, the house owner Audinarayana 45, hanged himself to death in his poultry farm on Sunday evening. According to information, Audinaray-ana has a house at Alagannagari Veedhi and a poultry farm at Ramasamudram road in Punganuru town. Although there are no arrears pertaining to his house, the property tax dues on the poultry farm was about Rs 4 lakhs.

He approached the civic body officials, when they served a notice, a few days back pleading for time till next month to clear the outstanding dues citing the loss he suffered in the poultry business. However the authorities, who are under pressure to collect tax overdues from the government, selected those who owe more than a lakh to to bring pressure.

The suicide of Audinarayana, created tension in Punganuru. Locals had a tough time consoling the family members of the deceased. The family members said that they are going to lodge a complaint against those responsible for the death after completing the last rites. Police said that they would take action if the kin of the victim names anybody in their complaint.

Legislator Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy came down heavily against the government for harassing the public. He said that the previous government even waived interest on outstanding tax dues for 10 years while slamming the present government for lack of compassion.