Distressed farmer jumps to death as villagers, officials watch

A distressed farmer who was demanding government assistance today committed suicide by jumping from a mobile tower as police, officials and villagers tried in vain to dissuade him, days after suicide by a farmer at an AAP rally in Delhi.
The deceased, Yogendra, a father of three, was in debt as he had taken money from private lenders, according to officials.
The incident, which occurred in Rasulpur Danthala village of Kharkhauda, sparked tension in the area as angry villagers refused to hand over his body to the authorities.
District Collector Pankaj Yadav said the farmer climbed a mobile tower belonging to a private company this afternoon.

"He was demanding government assistance. Police reached the spot and with the help of local officials and villagers tried to convince him to come down," he said.
But he threatened to commit suicide and soon jumped from the tower. Yogendra died on the spot, the official said.

A large number of farmers gathered there after the incident and refused to hand over the body. "The sub-divisional magistrate and others are holding talks with the villagers and trying to convince them," he said.
According to the collector, preliminary investigation showed that the farmer had taken about Rs 3-4 lakh as loan from some people in the village.

"His family is being given Rs two lakh as immediate assistance from the Chief Minister's fund," Yadav said.
Locals said Yogendra had about 1.5 hectares of land and he was upset as his wheat crop had been destroyed in the recent unseasonal rains.
The shocking incident comes just days after a Rajasthan farmer Gajendra Singh committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in public view at a rally by Aam Aadmi Party against the land bill where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present.