Bhopal, Jan 11 (IANS) Two days after consuming pesticide, a farmer died in Chhindwara district, taking the number of such deaths within a month in Madhya Pradesh to five, an official said Tuesday.
Motiram Khode, a resident of Pandhurna town on the border with Maharashtra, breathed his last Monday night during treatment in the district hospital.
Srinivas Sharma, collector in charge of Chhindwara district, said: ‘Khode has committed suicide but we are investigating the reason.’
At least four farmers have earlier committed suicide while a few more have tried to kill themselves in the state after damage to their crops because of severe winter and frost.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan left for Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demand a relief package for the farmers for their damaged crops.
Before the prime minister, Chouhan will meet union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
Sources said the chief minister might ask for a special relief package of Rs.5,000 crore for the damaged crops in the state which have led to farmers’ suicides. There might be other issues too on Chouhan’s agenda his Delhi visit, they added.
