Mounting debts forces five farmers and two women to end life

Akola, July 26 (UNI) Inspite of the special package declared by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent Vidarbha tour, the spate of farmers' suicide continues here as five more of them and two women, hailing from the farming community, allegedly ended their life.

A 32-year-old debt-ridden farmer - Ganesh Ramchandra Mhaturkar, of Ghusar village, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison yesterday. He repaid his debt by selling-off two acres of agricultural land, family members said.

Two other farmers also ended their lives allegedly by consuming poison in Hiwarkhed village of Akot tehsil in the district yesterday. The deceased have been identified as - Kailas Punjaji Chaudhari (39) and Sadashiv Maroti Mohdhure (45).

Meanwhile, Bebibai, the wife of farmer Gajanan Deshmukh allegedly hanged herself in her house at Sonaj village in Nandura taluka of the bordering Buldhana district yesterday, police said. She took the drastic step due to a mounting debt of Rs eight lakh on them and crop failure.

Also, a class XII student - Diksha Sadar ended her life yesterday by consuming poison as her father, a farm labourer, could not arrange to pay dowry for her marriage, police added.

Besides, Neminath Bhagwan Agarkar (70), a farmer of Takli Khurd village in Karanja taluka of the adjoining Washim district committed suicide yesterday by hanging himself, police said.

A 22-year-old farmer, Gajanan Keshav Dhoke, of Wegaon village in Maregaon taluka of Yeotmal district, allegedly set himself ablaze on Monday, in which he received 90 per cent burn injuries and died on way to hospital, police said.

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