First potato farmer suicide in north Bengal, toll rises to 8

A potato farmer allegedly committed suicide at his home at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district today, making him the first victim of non-remunerative prices for the tuber in north Bengal.
With this, total eight potato farmers have taken the extreme step in West Bengal so far. Seven of them have died in the southern district of Burdwan in the last fortnight, though one of them was a resident of Birbhum district.
45-year-old Nritya Gopal Burman's body was found hanging in his room at his home at Fataktari area this morning by his family, police said.
His family said that he had sown potato in his land and had taken loans from various banks for the purpose.

Despite a bumper crop, he had been depressed for the past few days as he was unable to get remunerative price for the produce and repay his loans, the family said.
Dhupguri BDO Soumen Dutraj confirmed the death.
Potato farmers had last week blockaded NH 31 at Dhupguri protesting against the non-availability of potato bonds, which would enable them to store their produce in cold storages.