2 more Bengal potato farmers end lives; toll rises to 5

Two more financially distressed potato farmers allegedly committed suicide in West Bengal's Burdwan, taking toll to five in the district in the past fortnight.

While one of the deceased farmers, Atul Prasad Let (40) consumed pesticide at Bishnubati village, another Bijoy Hansda (38) also took the extreme step at Shivrampore last night.

Both died in the Burdwan Medical College Hospital this morning.

Relatives of both the victims claimed they had committed suicide for not be able to repay debts, as their products did not find adequate takers.

Police officials said they were investigating the incidents.

Meanwhile, Jamalpur Joint BDO Dipak Ghosh said he heard Atul had kept all his potato in the cold storage and also sold off a portion of it. It would have to be looked into whether loan was the cause of his death, he said.

Jamalpur MLA Ujjwal Pramanick of Trinamool Congress said Atul's death has no relation with potato production. He had taken loan for some other reason, and committed suicide because of family problem, the MLA said.

While one potato farmer killed himself in Khandaghosh yesterday, two other farmers committed suicide at Bhatar and Mangolkote in the district in the past fortnight.