Two farmers commit suicide in Mansa

Bathinda, May 31

Two farmers reportedly committed suicide in Mansa district on Thursday. While one of them consumed a poisonous substance, the other jumped off a water tank. Bodies of the deceased were handed over to their respective families after autopsy.

Balbir Singh (40) of Kharag Singh Wala village was rushed to a private hospital in Maur Mandi after he consumed some poisonous substance. He could not be saved. Balbir Singh, having a landholding of only half an acre, was reportedly finding it difficult to make both ends meet.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) leader Hansa Singh said Balbir Singh also used to work as an electrician to supplement his family income. He had taken some money on credit from his acquaintances.

Joga police station ASI Namdev Singh said Balbir used to be upset over having two daughters, but no son. He had taken to liquor consumption. The ASI also didn’t rule out the possibility that Balbir might have consumed poison by mistake as he had become an alcoholic.

In another case, Simarjit Singh (35) of Gehlon village committed suicide by jumping off a water tank. He owned only two kanals of land, but had a debt of Rs 5 lakh. While he was finding it hard to repay the debt, he was also under financial duress due to continuing expenditure on the cancer treatment of his mother. — TNS