Farmer commits suicide

45-year-old Dalim Pal was taken to the Burdwan Medical College Hospital where he died last night after drinking pesticide, police said.

Pal's wife and relatives said he had grown paddy and vegetables last season but the quality of products was poor and 150 bags of rice remain unsold.

Under severe depression for the last few months over his inability to clear dues of Rs 50,000 from a local moneylender he committed suicide, his wife Suchona Pal said.

District SP S M H Mirza, however, claimed the death was due to a family dispute.