UP farmer sets himself ablaze due to crop loss

Mathura, Apr 8: A 40-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide by setting himself on fire after seeing his crops destroyed due to untimely rains in Tarauli village of the district today, police said.

The deceased identified as Shishupal Singh had gone to his field this morning and was apparently distraught over crop loss. Upon returning, he went to the terrace of his house, poured kerosene and set himself ablaze, Chata inspector Jitendra Singh said. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors referred him to Agra.

However, he died on the way, he said. The body was handed over to his family after post-mortem.

In a similar incident, a farmer hanged himself in Hisar due to loss for untimely rains. The deceased, Om Prakash, 8 acres of wheat crops and 1 acre of methi crops due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm.

Moreover, the district authorities had served a notice on him, asking him to evict his house since it was an "unauthorised construction".

PTI