Maharashtra: Farmer ends life the day his son recites poem on suicide

NASHIK: Malhari Batule, a 32-year-old farmer from the Pathardi taluka of Ahmednagar district, allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on Thursday night.
Ironically, the same morning, Batule’s son — a Class III student at a government school — had recited a short poem on the topic of farmers’ suicide on the occasion of Marathi Bhasa Day.
The young boy had highlighted the need for farmers to desist from taking such a harsh step, as it serves no purpose.
The Pathardi police sources said Batule was rushed to a hospital in Ahmednagar city for treatment, but he later succumbed. At present, the police have registered a case of accidental death.
“We think the farmer may have ended his life as he had a substantial amount of loan to repay,” the police sources said.
Police insiders added that the farmer had taken a loan of more than Rs 20 lakh and had bought a truck. Moreover, it was also his responsibility to repay a loan of Rs 8 lakh that his father had taken to buy a tractor.
“As per the initial information that we have, the farmer was facing a financial crisis. He was finding it difficult to repay two loan installments,” police sources said.
As per the rules, the police and the local revenue department would carry out separate probes to ascertain whether the farmer ended his life purely due to agrarian crisis. The reports would be submitted to the district administration panel to asses whether the bereaved family is eligible for monetary compensation from the government.
A pall of gloom had descended on the Bharajwadi village after the villagers came to know of the incident. The deceased farmer is survived by his wife, three children and parents.