9 debt-ridden farmers commit suicides in Vidarbha in 3 days

Nagpur, Feb 4 (UNI) Nine debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha region in the past three days, a voluntary organisation activists here said.

The nine farmers, who ended their lives in the past three days included three from Buldhana district, two from Chandrapur and one each from Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Amravati districts, according to Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS), a voluntary organisation working among farmers in the region.

With this, the number of farmers who have taken the extreme step this year has touched 79, with 70 having done so in January 2007, the VJAS release said.

More than 1,400 farmers had committed suicides in 2006, the release added.

UNI