more-in A farmer of Tiruchi district allegedly committed suicide by setting himself ablaze in front of his house at Koyyathoppu near here on Sunday. His family and the Tamil Maanila Congress farmers’ wing claimed that he took the extreme step as the crop in his field has withered. But police said the victim, A. Ganesan (42), was an alcoholic. A father of six children, including five daughters, Ganesan owned around three acres of land. He was admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital with severe burns. He succumbed in the early hours on Monday. His wife G. Seethalakshmi lodged a complaint with the Somarasampet police station based on which a case under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was booked. Ms.Seethalakshmi, along with her young children, presented a petition at the Collector’s office seeking government assistance. Puliyur A.Nagarajan, president, Farmers Wing of the Tamil Maanila Congress, who accompanied Ms.Seethalakshmi, said Ganesan was under severe stress as the well in his field had gone dry. “He has dug a new well but that too had failed. The cholam and brinjal crops raised on his field had withered and hence he took the decision to end his life,” he said and urged the government to sanction a compensation of ?30 lakh to the family. (Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline number is 044-24640050.)

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