Maharashtra: Farmers attempt self-immolation on Independence Day

Maharashtra on Sunday reported back-to-back self-immolation bids by farmers at various places including the secretariat as the State was celebrating Independence Day. However, the police and security staff thwarted their attempts. Farmers were worried about losses in agriculture, land grabbing and pending payments.

Mumbai/Dhule/Satara (Maharashtra): Maharashtra on Sunday reported back-to-back self-immolation bids by farmers at various places including the secretariat as the State was celebrating Independence Day. In the first incident reported in front of the secretariat, a farmer from Jalgaon tried to set himself on fire while the flag hoisting ceremony was going on. The police officials managed to avert the bid and took him into custody. Sunil Gujar, the farmer from Jalgaon district, told police that he suffered huge losses in agriculture. He had mortgaged his house for farming and now he is in dire straits and was forced to attempt the extreme step.

At Satara, seven persons from Asare village tried to immolate themselves at the district collector office while the guard of honour was happening. They alleged that an affluent person from the village has grabbed government land in 2018. Three years after the complaint, no action was taken and the administration is deliberately ignoring them. The administration on the contrary was interrogating them, they alleged.

At Dhula district, a farmer, frustrated over the pending payment for the soil excavated from his land, attempted self-immolation. Shahadu Nivruti Tambe from Shewale Shivara in Shindkheda taluk complained that the soil was excavated from his farm for road widening works. The government-appointed contractor was not paying him the dues despite repeated appeals, the farmer complained.

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