Two debt-ridden farmers commit suicide in MP

Two debt-ridden farmers have allegedly committed suicide in Hoshangabad and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh, police said today.
With this, the number of farmer suicides reported in the state since June 8 has rose to nine.
Narmada Prasad Yadav, 50, a farmer and resident of Chaplasar village, killed himself by drinking pesticide yesterday, Hoshangabad Kotwali Police Station in charge Mahendra Singh Chouhan said.
Yadav was declared brought dead at the district hospital, he added.
"The family members of farmer said he was under distress as he failed to repay the loan taken from a private lender of Babai town. His problems were multiplied due to poor crop this year," Chouhan said, adding a case was registered.

Another farmer Kalla Kewat, 55, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree at Vineka village in Shivpuri district last evening.

He had taken a loan of Rs 80,000 from various people in the villages but was not able repay it due to poor farm produce during past three years, claimed his kin.
However, Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) of Badarwas, Sujeet Bhadoriya said there was no bank loan owed by Kewat.
"We are investigating the matter. There was no bank loan owed by Kewat," he added.
Madhya Pradesh had witnessed a major farmers' protest in the past fortnight.