70-yr-old farmer immolates self on funeral pyre

MUMBAI: In Jalgaon, home town of controversial BJP leader Eknath Khadse and water resources minister Girish Mahajan, a 70-year-old debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by setting himself on fire on the funeral pyre.
According to an official, Namdev Patil, a resident of village Gawhan in Amalner Tehsil, left his home three days ago. Subsequently, his half-burnt body was found in his own farm.Villagers believe that he set himself on fire on the funeral pyre.
Jalgaon collector Rubal Agarwal confirmed the death of Patil, but expressed doubts over whether it was really a suicide or murder. "I am doubtful whether the farmer committed a suicide or it was a murder. Prima facie, there are no signs of suicide. However, we have initiated a proposal for financial assistance to the next of the kin of the deceased assuming that it was a suicide," Agarwal told TOI.
She said in view of the doubts expressed in certain quarters, police have been asked to probe if it was a suicide or murder. "We will investigate the case thoroughly," she said.
Notwithstanding a series of measures taken by the state government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, it was found that there was steady increase in the number of farmers' suicides.
"In Yavatmal and Osmanabad districts, there has been drastic reduction in suicides in the first five months compared to last year, but elsewhere in the state, there is no end to suicides," the official said.