Singur farmer commits suicide

A farmer, whose land was acquired by the West Bengal government for setting up the Tata Motors' small car project, allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Monday.

Police said Haradhan Bag (62) was found dead by his family members at his house in the Beraberi Purbapara area of Singur.

The farmer, whose one-acre land had been fenced off for the small car plant, had refused money as compensation for his agricultural land.

A strong supporter of Krishi Jami Raksha (Save Farmland) committee, Haradhan had also undertaken a hunger strike to protest the acquisition of agricultural land for setting up industries.

He had 18 cottahs of land left with him after a major chunk was fenced off for the Tata Motors' car factory.

A spokesman of the Save Farmland committee said many farmers who lost their land during the acquisition drive were suffering from depression and Haradhan was one of them.

Police claimed that Haradhan's death was a fallout of a family dispute and it had no link with land acquisition.

Haradhan is survived by wife and two sons.