Farmer attempts suicide over crop loss

A farmer, who claimed to have suffered a huge loss due to crop failure, tried to commit suicide by setting himself ablaze at the ongoing Krishi Mahotsav at Kodinar taulka of Gir-Somnath district today.
The farmer has been identified as Ramsinh Dodiya, a resident of Anandpur village in Kodinar taluka.
According to police, Dodiya had already informed the police department about his bid to end his life by sending a letter to the Kodinar police station a few days ago.
"After receiving his letter, we started hunting for him, but we couldn't locate him. In his letter, Dodiya claimed that he was not compensated by the government after his watermelon crop failed completely due to unseasonal rains. He had threatened to end his life during Krishi Mahotsav today," Kodinar police inspector D T Vaghela said.

Dodiya had come prepared with a bottle of petrol to the Krishi Mahotsav at nearby Mitiyaj village this afternoon, he said.
"Before he could immolate himself, we caught him and kept under preventive detention. Later, we produced him before the magistrate, who granted him bail," he said.