Rajkot: Farmer sets himself ablaze after crop fails
TNN | Jan 25, 2019, 09:02 IST
Savji Bhojani had taken a loan to buy cumin seeds.RAJKOT: Crop failure has become an eternal hell fire for the farmers in Saurashtra who continue to commit suicide. One more farmer ended his life, this time, by setting himself ablaze in Mota Rampar village of Padadhari taluka in Rajkot district on Thursday morning.
The deceased was identified as Savji Bhojani (50). With the death of Bhojani, the toll of farmers, who have committed suicide due to crop failure, has mounted to 23 in Saurashtra since September 2018.
The preliminary investigation of police has revealed that Bhojani had been suffering from depression ever since his cumin crop failed. He had taken loan to buy cumin seeds after the first groundnut crop failed. However, most cumin cultivated on 8 bigha land failed and the recent round of unseasonal rain compounded the problems by destroying the remaining crop.
“While the other members of his family were asleep early Thursday morning, Bhojani doused himself over with kerosene and set self ablaze. His family members rushed him to Rajkot Civil Hospital where he was declared dead on admission,” said Firoz Baloch, head constable of Padadhari police station.
Earlier, Meraman Sida (27) in Nagadia village of Kalyanpur taluka in Devbhoomi Dwarka district had consumed poison and died in Porbandar Civil Hospital on January 9.
“In his statement, Sida’s elder brother Keshu (42) said that Sida had been suffering from depression ever since his groundnut crop failed. He and Sida were farming on four fields leased out to them by the village landlord,” said S N Karangia, sub-inspector of Kalyanpur police station.
On January 18 late evening, Ramesh Makwana (22), a farmer from in Rabarika village of Jamjodhpur in Jamnagar district had hanged himself at his house. His father Devsi had told police that Ramesh was under tremendous stress because he was not able to grow anything in his farm and he did not have other employment opportunities available. Police said that Ramesh had seven bigha land but it was unproductive since last two years.
So far, 23 farmers have committed suicide across Saurashtra since September last year. Six suicides were reported from Amreli, four from Devboomi Dwarka and Surendranagar districts, three from Rajkot district, and two each from Porbandar and Junagadh. One suicide each was reported from Jamnagar and Bhavnagar districts.
The deceased was identified as Savji Bhojani (50). With the death of Bhojani, the toll of farmers, who have committed suicide due to crop failure, has mounted to 23 in Saurashtra since September 2018.
The preliminary investigation of police has revealed that Bhojani had been suffering from depression ever since his cumin crop failed. He had taken loan to buy cumin seeds after the first groundnut crop failed. However, most cumin cultivated on 8 bigha land failed and the recent round of unseasonal rain compounded the problems by destroying the remaining crop.
“While the other members of his family were asleep early Thursday morning, Bhojani doused himself over with kerosene and set self ablaze. His family members rushed him to Rajkot Civil Hospital where he was declared dead on admission,” said Firoz Baloch, head constable of Padadhari police station.
Earlier, Meraman Sida (27) in Nagadia village of Kalyanpur taluka in Devbhoomi Dwarka district had consumed poison and died in Porbandar Civil Hospital on January 9.
“In his statement, Sida’s elder brother Keshu (42) said that Sida had been suffering from depression ever since his groundnut crop failed. He and Sida were farming on four fields leased out to them by the village landlord,” said S N Karangia, sub-inspector of Kalyanpur police station.
On January 18 late evening, Ramesh Makwana (22), a farmer from in Rabarika village of Jamjodhpur in Jamnagar district had hanged himself at his house. His father Devsi had told police that Ramesh was under tremendous stress because he was not able to grow anything in his farm and he did not have other employment opportunities available. Police said that Ramesh had seven bigha land but it was unproductive since last two years.
So far, 23 farmers have committed suicide across Saurashtra since September last year. Six suicides were reported from Amreli, four from Devboomi Dwarka and Surendranagar districts, three from Rajkot district, and two each from Porbandar and Junagadh. One suicide each was reported from Jamnagar and Bhavnagar districts.
more from times of india Cities
LATEST VIDEOS
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE