A sugarcane farmer on Friday attempted suicide in front of the taluk office here.
Basavaraj Kamashetty, a 55 year-old farmer of Muchalamba village in the taluk, poured petrol before setting himself ablaze. Frustration and anxiety over the non-lifting of sugarcane crop by the sugar factory from his fields, are said to have driven the farmer to this extreme step.
It is said that Kamashetty arrived at the taluk office early in the morning, met the tahsildar and urged for immediate lifting of his crop. Not satisfied with the tahsildar’s assurances, Kamashetty shouted that he was fed up of running from pillar to post to get his crop lifted, threatened to commit suicide in front of the taluk office before coming out.
The tahsildar, concerned over Kamashetty’s mental state rushed out along with his staff and another farmer .
By then, Kamashetty had poured a bottle of petrol and set himself on fire near the flagpost in front of the office. The tahsilar rushed towards the farmer, stripped his shirt off and doused the flames. Kamashetty was immediately taken to the nearby government hospital for treatment. The timely action meant that Kamashetty sustained minor injuries on his head, neck and chest along with both the hands.
The farmer was taken to Gulbarga in the afternoon after being given first aid. The tahsilar also sustained burns on his fingers and was treated for the same.