Image for representation purpose only. Courtesy: Wikipedia1. The spate of farmers suicides' continues unchecked as four more farmers ended their lives. So far, 61 farmers have committed suicide due to sugar factories defaulting in their payment of arrears, failing crops and borewells, debt, harassment from money lenders. The issue rocked the legislature on Monday as the Opposition attacked the government for not being able to check the suicide rate in the state even as CM Siddaramaiah said that the compensation would be increased. 2. After delay, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to look into the allegations of corruption within the Lokayukta office has begun its investigation into the matter. The team visited the Lokayukta office on Monday and collected details from officials who had conducted the probe so far, including documents and FIR records. 3. The three-member committee headed by IAS officer (retd) BS Patil on Monday submitted a report on the feasibility of restructuring Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The committee has recommended that the body be split into five corporations, with a three -tier structure under the umbrella body of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) with more power being given to public in making ward-level decisions. 4. Co-operation and Sugar Minister HS Mahadeva Prasad on Monday announced on the floor of the Assembly that Rs 321 crore had be released towards the first instalment of dues payable to sugarcane farmers for the year 2013-14. The money has been released to district deputy commissioners of all sugarcane growing districts and has been asked to deposit Rs100 in the account of sugarcane farmers for every tonne of the crop. The second instalment would be paid by July 31, said the minister. 5. The State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday assured the Karnataka High Court that a fresh notification of the calendar of events for BBMP polls would be released by Friday. The HC rapped up the SEC for postponing the elections despite the Supreme Court not passing a specific order in this regard. The SC had ordered the state to conduct BBMP elections within eight weeks.