Telangana: Farmer attempts suicide over delayed grain procurement

A paddy farmer in Annaram village tried to set himself on fire after waiting over a month for his crop to be weighed. Delays and perceived favoritism at the IKP centre triggered the extreme step

Suryapet: A paddy farmer distressed by delay in grain procurement attempted to take his own life at Annaram village of Suryapet district on Wednesday. Waiting for over one month for his paddy to be weighed as part of the procurement process at the IKP-managed paddy purchase centre, Uppala Venkanna doused himself and his paddy stock with petrol in a bid to set himself afire.

According to police, Venkanna was disappointed after noticing that paddy stocks belonging to influential people with later serial numbers were being weighed ahead of his. Unable to endure the injustice, he resorted to an extreme step. The onlookers went to his rescue and saved his life.

Local farmers have voiced their grievances, citing labour shortages, lack of transport facilities, and insufficient supply of grain bags as primary reasons for the procurement bottlenecks. Recent unseasonal rains have added further to the plight of farmers like Venkanna at the IKP purchase centre.