3 more fall prey to rural indebtness

Tribune News Service
Bathinda, February 9

Three farmers allegedly committed suicide in different parts of the state.

Manjit Singh (45) from Bucho Khurd, block president of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan Nathana block, who consumed pesticide on January 26, breathed his last at a private hospital in Bathinda on Saturday morning. He had reportedly taken a loan of Rs 7 lakh from a commission agent, due to which he was under stress. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. BKU Ekta Ugrahan leader Shingara Singh Mann said Manjit had enough land, but it had been decreasing due to debt. In another incident, Beant Singh of Chak Fateh Singhwala village ended his life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan on Saturday. He reportedly owned little land and had a debt of Rs 5 lakh. The union has demanded government job and Rs 10-lakh compensation for the families of both farmers.

In Faridkot, Sukhdev Singh (55) of Wander Jatana village on Saturday succumbed to burn injuries which he had sustained two days back in a self-immolation bid. Sukhdev was reeling under a debt of Rs 8 lakh and owned less than two acres of agriculture land. A father of two daughters and a son, Sukhdev had sent his son to Malaysia two years back in the hope that he would help him in settling the debt. However, his son too was struggling in Malaysia to get a proper job. Due to this, Sukhdev had been under stress for some time, said his family members.