Bodies of three farmers were found hanging in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district in the last two days, the PTI reported. Bardhaman is considered to be the rice bowl of the state for its production of the staple crop.
The families of the deceased claim that they committed suicide after Cyclone Jawad-induced untimely rain destroyed potato and paddy crops, while the district administration is probing the incidents.
Bodies of two farmers were found hanging in their houses in Debipur and Bantir villages in Raina I block on Saturday, while the third person's body was found hanging in his house in Biruha village in Kalna II block on Friday. The bodies have been sent to Bardhaman Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination, PTI reported.
Although the families are alleging suicide due to crop failure, the authorities, in one voice are refuting the family's claim.
DM Priyanka Singla said that the incidents are under investigation. However, after Raina I block BDO Soumen Banik said that the suicides were "not due to crop failure" after preliminary investigation. He has instructed the police and agriculture department to investigate the matter further.
"The farmers' suicide would not have been due to crop failure as they had received financial help under 'Krishak Bandhu' scheme a week ago," Pradip Mazumdar, advisor to the state government on agriculture, said
Trinamool Congress' Raina MLA, Shampa Dhara also claimed that the deaths were not because of crop failure.
(with inputs from PTI)