Two farmers commit suicide in Karnataka

Bangalore, Jun 19 (UNI) Close on the heels of a farmer committing suicide yesterday over non-availability of fertiliser, two more farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka by consuming poison.

Veerasetti Basavanappa (46) allegedly committed suicide last night by consuming pesticide at Pollakapalli village in Gulbarga district as he was unable to repay the Rs 62,000 loan availed from private money lenders due to crop failure.

He was shifted to the Government Hospital in Chincholi, where he died this morning.

In another incident, farmer Rangappa (52) of Pallavanahalli in Shimoga district ended his life by consuming poison as he was desperate over not getting fertiliser despite waiting in the queue for four days.

Meanwhile, members of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha staged rasta roko on the Pune-Bangalore highway in Davanagere with the body of 43-year-old Hirebidri Ajappa, who committed suicide yesterday by consuming pesticide as he could not get fertiliser even after three days of waiting in a queue at Malebennur. The agitators were pacified by the officials and the body was cremated later.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, visited Davanagere and paid Rs one lakh from the party to his family members.

On behalf of the State Government, a cheque for Rs one lakh was given to the family of Ajappa. Kurubara Sangha and JD(S) have also assured to give Rs one lakh each and the Deputy Commissioner had assured to allot a house under the Ashraya scheme to the family of the deceased.

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