Three farmers end lives in West Vidarbha

Akola, Aug 14 (UNI) Despite the special package announced by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for farmers in Vidarbha region, the spate of farmers' suicide continues unabated in the Western Vidarbha region here as three farmers have committed suicide due to indebtedness and crop failure.

Police said the three farmers, two from Akola district and one from adjoining Washim district committed suicide during last 24 hours.

A young progressive farmer, Subhash Ramesh Mankar (30), resident of village Pimpri Jannpur in Akot taluka of Akola district committed suicide by consuming poison yesterday, police said. Owner of 10-acre agriculture land, Mankar owed to pay Rs 30,000 to a bank, which he was unable to pay due to destruction of his crops during the recent floods.

In another case, a farmer from Ponda Nandigram village of the same district, identified as Rambhau Amrut Bayaskar (65), took poison to end his life.

Another debt-ridden farmer Manik Pundalik Pandit (45), of village Deothana in adjoining Washim district has committed suicide by consuming poison yesterday afternoon, police said. Owner of 5-acre agriculture land, Pandit took the extreme step due to damage to his soyabean crop during recent floods.

Accidental deaths have been registered in all these incidents and further investigation is on, police added.

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