Fertiliser scarcity drives farmer to commit suicide

Davanagere, Karnataka, Jun 18 (UNI) A 43-year-old farmer, vexed over not getting fertiliser even after three days of 'struggle', today committed suicide by consuming pesticide while standing in a queue to receive fertiliser from the district authorities at Malebennur, about 35 km from here.

The other farmers who saw Hirebidri Ajappa of Chikkabidre village in Haveri district gulp down the poison, immediately rushed him to a hospital, but he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

The farmers were standing in serpentine queues since early today to collect fertilisers, being distributed directly by the district authorities in Malebennur.

Tense situation prevailed as members of farmers association immediately blocked the national highway at Harihara bypass road.

The agitating farmers demanded a compensation of Rs ten lakh to the next of kin of Ajappa and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's visit to his village.

In Chennagiri, farmers, enraged over the non-availability of fertilisers, pelted stones at the taluk office, damaging window panes.

The farmers, who were happy about the early onset of South-East monsoon, were left in the lurch following the acute shortage of chemical fertilisers and seeds. This had led to violent protests in many places, particularly in Dharwad city and Haveri town. In Haveri, a farmer was killed in police firing last week.

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