Debt-ridden potato farmer dies by suicide

Midnapore: A 30-year-old farmer from Rangamati village in West Midnapore's Chandrakona block-I died on Wednesday night after consuming pesticide, following a dispute with his family over crop losses and debt. The deceased, Rakhal Ari, lived with his mother, wife and two children.According to family members, Ari cultivated potatoes on four bighas of shared land. He had taken a loan of Rs 1.4 lakh after mortgaging his wife's jewellery. Aside from a 10-katha plot, Ari owned no other property.The family stated that the price of potatoes fell to Rs 320 per quintal as the harvest began. This led to a dispute between Ari and his wife on Friday evening, after which he consumed pesticide. He was admitted to Ghatal Hospital, where he died five days later.Meanwhile, pickup van drivers and owners staged a blockade at Enayetpur in Midnapore Sadar Block. The drivers alleged that during the potato harvesting season, vehicles transporting produce from fields to cold storage were stopped and fined between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000.Protesters dumped potatoes on the road to demonstrate against the transport department and the police.