Official held for abetting farmer suicide in north Maharashtra

Mumbai: Police in north Maharashtra have registered an FIR against a government official for allegedly abetting a farmer’s suicide.

“We have registered an FIR under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC against then sakri block development officer (BDO) Sarika Bari,” a senior police official told PTI.

Distressed after a hail storm damaged his crops, Laxman Barde (70) had committed suicide in March.“Sarika Bari, who at present the Deputy CEO of the Nandurbar Zilla Parishad, had come to the farmer’s village for a crop damage assessment.

“Shortly after her visit, the farmer in a letter to the district collector had alleged that she humiliated him in front of all villagers,” the official said.

A couple of days later, the farmer committed suicide by hanging himself from a bridge barricade in the village, reported Asian Age.

“The deceased farmer’s son, Deepak Barde (34), filed a complaint. We registered an FIR yesterday after collecting necessary evidence,” the official said.