Sugarcane farmers attempt suicide in Gulbarga

Ten sugarcane farmers attempted suicide by consuming pesticide in front of the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Jewargi in Karnataka’s Gulbarga district yesterday after sugar mills refused to purchase their crop.

Though the sugarcane farmers were on an indefinite hunger strike for more than a fortnight, seeking to bring pressure on the Government to ensure that their sugarcane crop is purchased by the sugar mills, the agitation took a turn for the worse yesterday after their meeting with the assistant commissioner did not yield any result.

Though more than a hundred farmers were on a fast outside the assistant commissioner’s office, ten among them consumed pesticide in a bid to end their lives. The police, which was present on the spot, sprung into action and quickly transported them to the Government hospital in Jewargi town.

Police said the doctors were trying to remove the pesticide the farmers had consumed and save their lives. The farmers will have to be kept under observation for a day or two, the police said quoting the doctors at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the police also arrested the remaining the farmers, who were participating in the protest.

The sugarcane farmers in several parts of north Karnataka are up in arms against the managements of sugar factories, which had decided to stop crushing activities after the price of sugar collapsed by Rs 300 for every quintal a few weeks ago.