3 farmers commit suicide in west Vidarbha

Akola, Maharashtra, Sep 20 (UNI) Three farmers have committed suicide in the west Vidarbha region over the past few days following failure of their crops and indebtedness.

Police said Devidas Kisan Urphate (30) from Ugwa village near here died after consuming poison on September 18. He was a marginal farmer with three acres of land. Urphate's crop of black gram was damaged and he was depressed for this reason, police said. Urphate's family sources said he had repaid a part of his loan by selling his bullock carts.

Santosh Pundlik Hage from Danapur village also died after consuming poison on the day of the ''pola'' festival -- a festival which is held to express the farmers affection for his farm animals, the bullocks.

In adjoining Buldhana district, a middle-aged farmer Bhaulal Gulabrao Rathod (45) from Palsoda village committed suicide also by consuming poison yesterday, police said.

UNI