'Debt-ridden' farmer commits suicide in UP

A 40-year-old farmer allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison at Khaptiha Kala village under Pailani police station area.
The family members of the victim have alleged that rising debt and damage to crops forced Suresh Singh to take the extreme step.
Suresh, who consumed sulphas tablets, died during treatment at Kanpur hospital yesterday, police said.
According to deceased's father Ram Swarup Singh, following damage to the crops in past few years, Suersh had taken a loan of Rs 3.50 lakh from a rural bank and Rs 70,000 from others to meet the expenses.
Suresh was unable to sow the crop this year because of water scarcity. He looked disturbed for the past couple of days as he was being asked to repay the loan, the father said.

District Magistrate Suresh Kumar noted that local revenue officials have been asked to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the reason behind the farmer's death.
The body has been handed over to the family after the post mortem examination, police added.