Amid rising incidents of farmers' suicides in recent weeks, three debt-ridden women from the farming community today allegedly attempted to commit suicide by setting a sugarcane field on fire at Maligere in the district and then jumping into it.
The women were upset after the sugar mills refused to crush their cane, police said.
A shepherd boy, who was grazing sheep nearby, noticed the fire and informed Fire Services personnel, who rushed to the spot and doused the blaze, they said.
Meanwhile, the women were prevented by people nearby from taking the extreme step.
The women had borrowed loans which they could not repay as the sugar mills were refusing the cane.
Cane growers are facing severe crisis in the state owing mounting arrears due to them from mills. Mandya is a major sugarcane growing area.
Mandya Superintendent of Police Bhushan G. Borase visited the spot.
