VIJAYAWADA: A week after the suicide of a 52-year-old farmer, from West Godavari district, by consuming pesticide at the Machilipatnam Collectorate alleging official inaction, another farmer was found taking a bottle containing the chemical inside the Collectorate on Monday.Identified as Neelapu Ranga Rao (60) of Bapulapadu in Krishna district, he came to the Collectorate to submit a petition in ‘Mee Kosam’ grievance redressal programme held every Monday. However, the police prevented Rao before he could consume the chemical. During the security check at the entrance of the Collectorate, the police noticed a small bottle and a soft drink bottle in his bag, and seized them.
Chilakalapudi Sub-Inspector (SI) L Rajesh said the incident took place around 9 am. “Rao came to the Collectorate to commit suicide in a bid to express his displeasure at officials for not responding to his land dispute petition.” He reportedly submitted petitions twice in the ‘Mee Kosam’ programme and had approached local revenue officials to get his problem solved.
When the police asked Rao why he was carrying pesticide and reason for attempting suicide, he said: “I purchased 25 cents (quarter acre) of agricultural land some years ago in Mallavalli village of Bapulapadu mandal. When the revenue department officials claimed it to be a government property, I realised that I was cheated and approached officials for justice. On the other hand, a nearby landowner, Tanish, was trying to grab my land with the help of the local village revenue officer (VRO).”
After a few minutes, Rao met District Collector B Lakshmikantham with the help of police and submitted representation directly to him. Responding to his petition, Laskhsimikantham ordered a departmental inquiry into the issue. “We are worried about the series of incidents in which farmers are committing suicides. We are requesting them not to indulge in such extreme steps. Severe action would be taken against the officials found guilty,” he said.
Woman commits suicide on rail track
Guntur: A young woman allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a running train near the railway station here on Monday. According to General Railway Police CI J Siva Narayana Swamy, the victim, identified as B Sravanthi (23), was residing at Nelasiri Hostel in Nayudupet area of the city since the last two years for preparation of banking exams. Her body, which was found on the railway track, was sent to the Guntur GGH for postmortem. A police complaint regarding the incident was lodged by her father Bejjanki Koteswara Rao.