Two farmers die by suicide in Bathinda

Bathinda, April 20

Upset over a fall in wheat yield, two farmers allegedly died by suicide in two incidents in Bathinda district.

Jaspal Singh, 39, of Maiserkhana village died after he jumped before a train on the Bathinda-Ambala railway track at the village late last night. He is survived by his parents, wife and two children.

Jaspal was reportedly upset due to the low crop yield this season and was not able to repay the loan of Rs 9 lakh that he had taken from a private bank.

In the second case, Gurdeep Singh (28) of Mansa Khurd village died after consuming a poisonous substance.

BKU (Ekta-Ugrhan) leader Harjinder Singh Baggi said the brother of the deceased had also died by suicide 10 years ago due to bad financial condition.

He said the debt burden of the farmers had grown due to low yield of wheat.

Farm union leaders have demanded Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of both the deceased, a government job to a family member of each and complete loan waiver for their families.