Maharashtra farmer climbs on burning pyre, ends life

Yavatmal (Maharashtra), Feb 5: A debt-ridden farmer from a village in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region climbed on a lit pyre and committed suicide Wednesday, the second such incident since November last year, an activist said here Thursday. Anandrao S. Pandagle, 45, a resident of Bhambh village, is survived by his wife and three teenaged daughters, said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishore Tiwari. Preliminary police investigations revealed he had farm debts of Rs.50,000 and was trying to collect another Rs.12,000 for his eldest daughter's marriage. "He was alone at home, poured kerosene on himself, prepared and lit his own funeral pyre before climbing on it... By the time locals rushed to help, he was burnt to death," Tiwari told IANS. This is the second instance of its kind in the region. On Nov 28 last year, 75-year old farmer Kashiram B. Indare of Manarkhed village lit his own funeral pyre in a field. Earlier presumed missing, his charred remains were discovered after a couple of days.