Rajasthan: 2 more farmers end lives; 1 dies of shock due to crop loss

Two more farmers allegedly committed suicide while another died of shock after seeing their crops destroyed in untimely rains, police said on Sunday.

Premshaker Meena (20) allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on Saturday evening in Ladpur village of Keshoraipatan police station area of Bundi district, they said. Premshanker committed suicide as he was deeply distressed after seeing the destruction of his crops caused by recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm, they said.

The body was found hanging from a tree in a field, police said, adding, a case under section 174 of CrPc was registered in this regard.

In a second such incident, 21-year-old Vinod Meena, a resident of Ramnagar village of Boodadit police station, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison after seeing the damaged crops in his four bighas of land on Thursday evening.

The body was found among the bushes on the way to nearby village, police said, adding, that after conducting post-mortem the body was handed over to the family members. In another incident, Rameshawar Tiwari (68), a resident of Hanotiya village of Kota district died on Friday.

According to the family members, Tiwari suddenly fell ill and restless after seeing the damaged crops of coriander over his 40 bighas of land. He was rushed to hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, farmers at Jalunda village of Bundi district claimed that no survey team or relief work has reached them yet. Congress President Sonia Gandhi had visited villages in the district here on March 20 where she met farmers, who have suffered crop and livestock losses, and expressed solidarity with them.

When asked about the survey and relief work, ruling BJP MLA from Ladpura area of Kota Bhawani Singh Rajawat said the state government has already announced a relief package to the rain-affected farmers and ensured that assistance to the farmers would reach within five to six days.

State president of Rajasthan Pradesh Kisan and Khait Majdoor Sandeep Singh Choudhary demanded a compensation of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per bigha of land for the rain-hit farmers across the state. He also demanded exemption of electricity bills for the affected farmers for the next six months.

At least 11 farmers have died so far in Kota division of Rajasthan.