Farmers stop youth from jumping from signpost during protest
Farmers in Belagavi intervened to stop a 25-year-old man from attempting suicide during a protest over sugarcane prices. The man expressed deep distress regarding the financial plight of farmers and the government's failure to meet their demands.
Why it matters
It underscores the severe economic desperation and mental health challenges faced by the agricultural community in India.
Farmers stopped a young man who was trying to jump to the ground from the top of a signpost bar during the protest by sugarcane farmers at Hattargi village in Belagavi district on Tuesday (October 13).
Laxmikant Mardi, 25, of Tukkanatti village, had climbed the pole halfway when someone noticed him and pulled him down.
He told the crowd that he was upset at the Union government for failing to fulfil farmers’ demands. “I decided to end my life to bring attention to the cause of farmers. I was greatly worried about the plight of farmers who are not getting remunerative prices ,’’ he said.
Senior activists consoled him and asked him to continue peaceful protests till their demands were met.
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