Another farmer allegedly commits suicide in Burdwan district

Burdwan (WB), April 24: Another farmer allegedly committed suicide in Burdwan district, taking the total number of farmer suicides in the district to 13 and in West Bengal to 17.

Assad Ali Mollah, a resident of Bahadpur village under Jamalpur police station, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his house on Thursday night.

He was rushed to Burdwan Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead, officials said.

Mollah's brother Basir claimed that he (Mollah) committed suicide as his crops had suffered huge damage due to the unseasonal rains and he also failed to get remunerative price for his potato cultivation. [TMC shouting over Gajendra Singh death: What about the deaths of potato farmers in Bengal?]

Basir further alleged that Mollah had taken loans from local private money lenders and he was finding it difficult to repay the loan.

Local panchayat committee member Mehboob Khan alleged that Mollah committed suicide due to "family problems".

Burdwan District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan said he has asked the officials to investigate the matter and submit a report to him on Mollah's death.

The District Magistrate had earlier claimed that suicide by farmers in the district were not caused due to their being under debt but over personal reasons.

Two farmers had allegedly committed suicide in Malda district, one each in Jalpaiguri and West Midnapore district.

PTI