Saharanpur: A farmer here allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide with his family members claiming that he was forced to take the extreme step in the wake of the damage to crops caused by the recent unseasonal rainfall.
According to Additional SP Dharmvir Singh, the deceased has been identified as the 45-year-old Surendra Singh of Asarakhedi village.
Police said that Surendra went to his fields last night and consumed pesticide. His body was found in his fields this morning. They said that the body was taken for a post- mortem following which it was handed over to the kin of the deceased.
Surendra's family members alleged that he had been trying unsuccessfully to get officials to survey the damage suffered by his crops so that he could receive assistance from the government.
Locals demanded compensation from the government for the kin of the deceased and said they would hold protests to press the demands of distressed farmers.
Meanwhile, in Amethi district, a 60-year-old farmer, Raj Narayan Shukla, died today of a heart attack with his family members saying he was unable to bear the shock which the damage to his wheat crops had caused him.
Amethi District Magistrate Jagat Raj Tripathi told PTI that although the farmer's death was of a natural cause, his dependents would be provided with benefits under the Indira Avas and National Family schemes.
Also, local MLA and Uttar Pradesh minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati visited some wheat fields in Bhetua block and directed the officials to carry out a proper survey of the ruined crops and send data about the same to the state government.
