Yavatmal (Maharashtra), Feb 5 (IANS) A debt-ridden farmer from a village in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region climbed on a lit pyre and committed suicide Wednesday, the second such incident since November last year, an activist said here Thursday.
Anandrao S. Pandagle, 45, a resident of Bhambh village, is survived by his wife and three teenaged daughters, said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishore Tiwari.
Preliminary police investigations revealed he had farm debts of Rs.50,000 and was trying to collect another Rs.12,000 for his eldest daughter's marriage.
"He was alone at home, poured kerosene on himself, prepared and lit his own funeral pyre before climbing on it... By the time locals rushed to help, he was burnt to death," Tiwari told IANS.
This is the second instance of its kind in the region.
On Nov 28 last year, 75-year old farmer Kashiram B. Indare of Manarkhed village lit his own funeral pyre in a field. Earlier presumed missing, his charred remains were discovered after a couple of days.
Vidarbha has been rocked by five more suicides since Wednesday, according to Tiwari, even as the desperate farmers' patience was running out in the wake of official apathy to their plight.
The victims are: Ramkrishan Bhalavi of Talni village and Ambadas Wahile of Gunji village, both in Amravati district; Sanju Gawande of Saikheda village in Washim district; Vijay Tadas of Ghorad village and Nanaji Ingole of Kanheri village, both in Wardha district.
In December, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the state government on the issue of debt-ridden farmers' suicides in Maharashtra following a public interest litigation filed by a lawyer R.U. Upadhyay.
Similarly, the National Human Rights Commission has also sent a notice to the state government seeking a report on the incident, even as the spate of farmland suicides continues unabated in Maharashtra.
Last week, the Shiv Sena strongly criticized it ruling ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, for ignoring the plight of the farmers though Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hails from the Vidarbha region.
Patients crossed 79 million; Death rate less than 1% in 14 states and union territories
The number of corona patients in the country has crossed 79 lakh. So far 79 lakh 9 thousand 49 pe
India has made it to the finals of the World Cup. They defeated New Zealand by 70 runs in a thril
Important military dialogue is going to take place between India and China on 12 January (Wednesd
Jaundice scare in Odisha capital city
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (IANS) After triggering panic in Samb
Jeffrey Gatleman. Coronavirus cases are increasing in several countries, including India, Mexico,
Delhiites are finally going to get relief from the scorching heat. Strong cold winds and clouds h
Modi, Rajnath, Hazare to visit Punjab
Chandigarh, March 18 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tributes on March 23 to free
How will Corona's havoc stop? Government orders only 4% of serum population of serum
While efforts are being made to reduce the second wave of Coronavirus in the country, the governm
Chennai Super Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday. If D
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has many films in his kitty which are eagerly awaited. There is als
