Suicide by farmers continues in North Karnataka

Bidar (Karnataka), May 10: Depressed over sugar mills failing to lift cane two more farmers committed suicide in Bidar District today taking the total number of farmers ending their life due to indifferent attitude of sugar mills to 18 during the last four months.

Fifty year old Prabhu Valakeri (50) committed suicide following indifferent attitude of Naranj Sarkar Sakare Kharkan (NSSK) in lifting the sugar cane from his field despite his plea during the last 15 days as the harvested crop started drying up. He committed suicide by hanging himself at his field.

In another incident, Dasarat Mallannavar (35) committed ended his life in his house last night at Chittawadi village in the district for not receiving money for the sugar cane sold four months back.

Enraged over the incident, hundreds of farmers staged Rasta Roko blocking vehicular movement on Hyderabad-Pune National Highway by erecting a tent. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded for more than five km on the highway.

Top officials, including police officers, trying their best to pacify the agitating farmers. Legislator from Humnabad M N Patil also visited the spot. .

Deputy Commissioner Munish Moutgil, however, claimed that the situation was not panicky to take extreme step in the life. Steps have been taken to lift the sugar cane grown by the farmers who had enrolled their names in three Cooperative Sugar Factories and officials were monitoring the prices.

He said that 27 farmers have committed suicide in the District since June 2006.

UNI