Farmer attempts suicide in front of Salem district collector

SALEM: A man, who was “fraudulently” expelled from a farmers’ association by its office-bearers, consumed a pesticide in front of Salem district collector S A Raman on Friday. The incident happened when the collector chaired a farmers’ grievances meeting in his chamber.
K Matheswaran, 58, of Andipatty attempted suicide after handing over a petition to the district collector. Soon he fell on the floor.
The collector asked officials to rush the farmer to Government Hospital. Doctors who examined Matheswaran said his condition was critical.
The Salem town police registered a case. Preliminary investigations revealed that the office-bearers of the farmers’ association had expelled Matheswaran from the association fraudulently when he had questioned them for collecting Rs 10 lakh each from 100 people for making them shareholders of the association.
The farmer alleged that the action of the office-bearers had brought a bad name to him. “In the petition submitted to the district collector, Matheswaran mentioned the names of the eight farmers. He sought action against them,” a police officer said.