Four farmers commit suicide in Vidarbha

Nagpur, July 4 (UNI) Close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's relief package to farmers, four peasants committed suicide in Amarvati, Akola and Yavatmal districts in the Vidharbha region of Maharashtra due to mounting debts.

According to reports here, 23-year-old Shrikant Rangarao Kalbande, a farmer from Nimbhora Lahe in Nandgaon Khnadeshwar Taluka of Amravati district, where Dr Singh visited during his tour, ended his life by consuming poison on Sunday.

Vijay Prabhakarrao Junghare (30), a farmer from Dhamangaon also from Amravati district committed suicide by jumping into a well in his farm. Vijay had taken loan from the State Bank of India but could not repay it due to crop failure, his family members told police.

A 22-year-old farmer, Kishor Vasudeo Dhondekar, from Umra in Akot taluka of Akola district also committed suicide because of financial problems.

A debt-ridden farmer, Bhotu Rathod (55), resident of Rampur (Pandhurna) in Pushad taluka of Yavatmal district consumed poison and breathed his last at Sub-district Hospial at Pushad on Monday.

He had takan a loan of Rs 60,000 from a sugar factory and could not repay it due to crop failure.

Cases have been registered at the police stations concerned as accidental deaths.

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