Farmers’ suicide bids thwarted

However, after several hours of persuasion by other farmers and Nadigar Sangam members they came down. Sources said, when the farmers were staging a mock funeral protest in Jantar Mantar on Saturday, Ramesh (34) of Moovanur village near Mannachanallur and Akilan (24) of Pillayarpalayam village near Musiri suddenly scaled a neem tree in the vicinity and threatened commit suicide, if their demands were not met. Soon, other farmers alerted the fire and rescue services personnel and police. To prevent any untoward happening, the personnel spread a net below to rescue the farmers even if they jumped off the tree. Meanwhile, other members of the protesting group and Nadigar Sangam office-bearers persuaded them to come down. 

The talks went on for nearly two hours. Later, both the famers relented and climbed down the tree. 

“Senior police officers asked us to leave the spot when we staged a mock funeral. But we continued our protest. The Centre has been treating the farmers as second grade citizens. The drought relief was too meagre and unless our demands are not met, we will not withdraw our protest,” P Ayyakannu, who has been leading the protests told DTNext  Speaking in Delhi, actor Vishal said, “We have decided to come up with a group called ‘Friends of Farmers’ to stop the ryots from committing suicide.”