MP farm dept to probe substandard pesticide charge after farmer’s suicide bid

The farmer in MP’s Sagar district had earlier complained to the agriculture department and the police alleging sale of substandard pesticides but no action was taken

Bhopal/Sagar: The agriculture department in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh has started a probe into complaints of substandard quality of pesticides after a farmer set himself on fire to press his demand for an investigation, police said on Tuesday

Police said the farmer told his wife that he will die by suicide to establish his concern about the quality of pesticide sold to him. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The farmer received 25% burn injuries and is being treated at Sagar medical college.

Sagar additional superintendent of police Vikram Singh said, “The farmer sowed soybean crop in two bigha land but the crop failed due to pests. The farmer filed a complaint with the agriculture department against the shopkeeper for providing substandard pesticides but no action was taken against the shopkeeper. On Monday, he filed a complaint at Banda police station.”

On Tuesday, the farmer told his wife that he will die by suicide to convince the authorities that substandard pesticide was sold to them. He rushed to the Banda police station and opened a bottle of petrol and set himself afire. “The farmer’s wife, villagers and police personnel doused the fire and took him to hospital, the police officer said.

Singh said the agriculture department is probing the complaint of substandard pesticides and an inquiry will be held to look into why no action was taken by the police when he complained.