On Monday, 27-year-old Siddaram Laxman Hasare of Nilji in Raibag taluk, brought two containers of pesticide to the protest organised by the Karnataka Kabbu Belegarara Sangha, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and other farmers’ organisations near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the monsoon session was on. According to sources, the protesters did not realise that Siddaram had consumed the pesticide.
Fortunately, a few farmers smelled pesticide and alerted the police.
A constable snatched both containers from Siddaram and took him to the district government hospital.
He is out of danger. Siddaram, in his suicide note, claimed he was a follower of P. Rajeev, MLA, and spent nearly Rs. 3 lakh for his election, as the latter had promised to help him.
He had a loan of Rs. 3.5 lakh. He pleaded that adequate compensation be paid to his family, waiver of his debt, and fixing a price for sugarcane.
Police version
Meanwhile, police officials told the media that they had found the pesticide container during security check. The incident was not revealed to the farmers’ leaders at the gathering., apparently to ensure that it did not spark off any angry protest.
