A debt-ridden woman farmer, a former village sarpanch, allegedly committed suicide in Maharashtra's Buldhana district, police said.

The incident took place at Dhotrabhangoji village in Chikhali tehsil in the early hours Thursday.

Ashaabai Dilip Ingle (53) set herself on fire in the cow shed next to her house, said assistant police inspector Vikrant Patil of Amdapur police station.

Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed and doused the flames by pouring water, but Ingle died on the spot, he said.

Ingle's relatives told police that she was not able to repay her loans which probably led her to take her life.

"The woman had taken a crop loan which was not repaid. But we are still probing the cause of suicide," inspector Patil said.

Ingle had three children who are educated and she herself was sarpanch (head of village panchayat) a few years ago, he said.

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