60-year-old farmer commits suicide in Maharashtra

A 60-year-old debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by hanging from a tree in his field in Parbhani district of Marathwada region, police said today.

Shivaji Rodage, who was a resident of Ravalgaon village in Selu tehsil, ended his life by hanging from a tree with a rope yesterday, a senior police official said.

The incident came to light when his family members went to the farm to search for Rodage, who was untraceable since Monday night, police said.

His nephew Rameshwar spotted him hanging from a tree. He was brought down with the help of some relatives and sent to hospital, where he was declared dead, police said.

Rodage had taken loans from bank and private money lenders, which he was unable to repay, police said. The farmer was in depression since the last few days, police said.

Selu police have registered a case of accidental death, the official said.

The farmer's suicide comes a few days after a 75-year-old farmer lighted his own 'pyre' and immolated himself in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra last week.

Madhav Shankar Rawate, the farmer, set up a pyre of fodder under a tree on his farm, lighted it and jumped into it after climbing the tree, his son said.

Rawate's cotton crop on his four-acre farm was ruined by the pink boll-worm attack, and he could get only three quintals of the crop, the son claimed, adding that his father owed Rs. 60,000 to creditors.