Farmers' unrest spreads to new areas; Noida toll rises to 4

Agra/Greater Noida (UP), May 8 (PTI) Protests over land
acquisition on Sunday spread to Agra, Mathura and Aligarh as
farmers clashed with police and torched vehicles, while the
toll rose to four in violence-hit Greater Noida.
The UP Government announced rewards up to Rs 50,000 for
information regarding the whereabouts of some farmers' leaders
who allegedly instigated the violence.
"Four policemen were injured when farmers turned violent
during a protest and indulged in arson" in Chaugaan village in
Aitmadpur in Agra, Special Director General of Police (Law and
Order) Brij Lal said in Lucknow, capital city of Northern
Indian state Uttar Pradesh.
He said irate villagers set ablaze several vehicles and
tents at a construction site, demanding higher compensation
for the land acquired by the Mayawati government for the
Yamuna Expressway.
Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters in
Lucknow that rewards of Rs 50,000 has been declared on Manvir
Singh Tewatia, Rs 15,000 each on Premveer and Neeraj Malik and
Rs 10,000 each on Gaje Singh, Kiranpal and Manoj for inciting
protestors who clashed with police in Bhatta Parsaul village
in Delhi's suburb Gautam Buddha Nagar, killing four persons.
Tewatia has been leading the farmers' agitation at Bhatta
Parsaul since January 17.
Claiming that land acquisition or compensation were not
the bone of contention, Shekhar said the incident took place
due to "political ambitions" of some persons. He, however,
declined to elaborate.
He said 22 persons have been arrested in connection with
the clash in Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Director General of Police Karamveer Singh said some
people also tried to demonstrate in Mathura and Aligarh, but
situation remained under control due to "timely police
intervention."
The villagers in Chaugaan allegedly opened fire, following
which police used force to disperse the agitating mob, Agra
DIG Aseem Arun told reporters.
"There was firing from the villagers' side, but the police
worked with restrain," he said, adding the situation is under
control.
Singh said searches were carried out in Bhatta Parsaul and
Achchepur villages which were hit by violence on Saturday, and
some people have been held.
"Situation in Bhatta Parsaul is under control, heavy
police force is camping in the area and some fresh arrests
have been carried out," Brij Lal said.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure
Code (CrPC) have been clamped in the district. Areas around
the village has been sealed off by the Provincial Armed
Constabulary (PAC) and the dharna site made out of bounds.
A protester, identified as Kalu, injured in Saturday's
clashes between police and farmers in Gautam Buddha Nagar
died, taking the toll to four in the violence, police said.
Two policemen - Manvir Singh and Manohar Singh - and a
farmer Rajveer were killed on Saturday in clashes that erupted
after police swooped on the village to rescue three state
roadways employees held hostage by the farmers since Friday.
District Magistrate Deepak Aggarwal, who suffered bullet
wound in his leg, and Senior SP S N Singh, who was also
injured along with scores of others, were recuperating. Their
condition was stable, officials said.
The police action drew condemnation from Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Janata Dal-United
(JD-U), Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, whose leaders
slammed the Mayawati government for the situation.
Hitting back at her political opponents, the Chief
Minister in a statement criticised the opposition parties for
raking up the issue "without verifying facts".
"The opposition parties should act maturely and collect
all information before issuing statements against the
government so that people do not react to their propaganda.
This might create law and order problem," she said.
The Cabinet Secretary said there was no incident in Tappal
(Aligarh), while in Mathura and Agra there were minor
incidents but due to others reasons and not due to land
acquisition.
"The acquisition of land in Bhatta Parsaul village was
done with mutual consent and the process for the same was
completed in 2010 itself and villagers were paid compensation
Rs 120 crores and Rs 180 crores respectively," he claimed.
Asked about the reasons for the agitation in Bhatta
Parsaul, Singh said it was for demanding development of the
village, transport, sewer and other facilities.
About yesterday's incident, he said 30 policemen were
undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
Meanwhile, eight more injured farmers from Bhatta village
were hospitalised on Sunday.
The injured farmers claimed that there was none to take
them to hospital and they were not going on their own for fear
of being arrested.
Two of them had gun shot injuries, while others had
fractures and wounds due lathi charge yesterday.