Officials, cops attacked by farmers in Agra

AGRA - At least two Uttar Pradesh government officials and at least half-a-dozen policemen were injured Tuesday when they were attacked in Agra district by farmers whose land was acquired for the Yamuna Expressway project, police said.

The injured included sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Etmadpur, Circle Officer, Etmadpur police station, and several jawans of the provincial armed constabulary.

Circle Officer Mahendra Singh was badly injured while tehsildar Pradeep Singh was hit on the head, forcing him to run for cover. He was later admitted to a nearby hospital after he began bleeding profusely, police said.

At least a dozen vehicles were smashed. The injured were been admitted to Agra emergency, a police officer said.

Police said Tuesday evening that farmers today ploughed the land in possession of the Expressway Authority and damaged the boundary wall of the company building the new highway to connect Greater Noida with Agra.

The agitated farmers of the Etmadpur area wanted parity in compensation rates with Noida and Aligarh farmers.

They told the police that they had collectively decided to go to any extent, as it was a matter of life and death for them.

When police tried to push them back from the expressway, the farmers turned violent and pelted stones. The violence, which started at 9 a.m., continued till 2 p.m.

Police also pelted stones after the mob refused to be pushed back. They also used batons and rubber bullets to disperse the mob. A large number of villagers reported injuries.

Reports said district administration officials were in Etmadpur area trying to persuade farmers to cool down and accept the state government’s terms promising enhanced compensation for the acquired land. But the farmers were adamant.

Meanwhile, confusion prevailed in the Aligarh district about the terms of the agreement with the government on the basis of which the farmers withdrew their agitation in Tappal town.

A majority of the farmers have rejected the offer thrashed out late Monday night by a group of senior bureaucrats.

The compensation for acquired land has been increased from Rs.449 per square metre to Rs.570 per square metre. The government has also agreed to pay Rs.10 lakh each to the family members of the two farmers killed in the violence Saturday. The amount has been enhanced from Rs.5 lakh announced earlier.

Though farmer leader Ram Babu Atelia was also released as per the protesters’ demand, several farmers area have refused to accept the agreement and are determined to fight to the finish, reports from Mathura and Aligarh said.

The 24 members of a struggle committee were not in agreement with Atelia who, the agitating leaders said, had come under pressure.