Farmer suicides continued unabated in Nashik with three separate incidents reported in Niphad, Baglan and Malegaon tehsils of Nashik district, the police said on Sunday. In the first case, farmer Dnyaneshwar Gangaram Nikam (35) of Mangre village in Malegaon tehsil hung himself in his house on Saturday. He was in debt and could not pay off the loans.
In the second case, farmer Jeebhau Bagul (65) of Shemli village in Baglan tehsil also hung himself to death. He had a 3.75 acre rain-fed farm. Owing to drought, the crops had failed in the last two years.
He had taken loans of Rs 93,000 from various institutions. As he failed to pay instalments, the loan amount had become 2.5 lakh. Jeebhau had also taken loans from his friends and relatives to make ends meet, the sources said.
Though Malegaon has a perennial water shortage, Niphad and Baglan tehsils are water-rich regions. This shows that farmers all over are affected by drought, debt and frustration.
In the third case, farmer Vikas Dnyandev Boraste (40) of Sakore (MiG) village in Niphad took poison and ended his life. Family members said that he was constantly worried and had taken Rs 28 lakh from a credit society and more loans from other people. He was an employee of Pimpalgaon Baswant APMC.
Earlier, on May 3, two drought affected farmers committed suicide in Vitave and Mendhi villages of Chandwad and Sinnar tehsils of Nashik district.
Farmer Jibhau Baliram Bachhav (45) of Kavlane village had committed suicide by jumping in a dry well. The majority of suicides are from Malegaon tehsil.
