Two more sugarcane farmers end life

Bidar, May 10 (UNI) Depressed over sugar mills failing to lift cane, two more farmers committed suicide in this district today taking the total number of farmers, who had ended their life due to the alleged ''indifference'' of sugar mills, to 18 during the last four months.

Prabhu Valakeri (50) allegedly committed suicide following 'indifferent attitude' of Naranj Sarkar Sakare Kharkan (NSSK) in lifting the sugar cane from his field for the last 15 days despite his pleas that the crop was drying up. He committed suicide by hanging at his field.

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

Enraged over the incident, hundreds of farmers staged a road blockade on Hyderabad-Pune National Highway. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded for more than 5 km on the highway.

Humnabad MLA, M N Patil and police officers have visited the spot.

Deputy Commissioner Munish Moutgil said steps had 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 27 farmers have committed suicide in the District since June 2006.

UNI