Bhatta Parasaul ashes sent for forensic test

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of alleged burning of people in Uttar Pradesh's Bhatta Parasaul, the focal point of farmers stir on land acquisition issue, ashes from a site were on Tuesday lifted and sent to forensic laboratory for examination.

Inspector General (Meerut) Rajni Kant Mishra denied allegations that people were burnt to death in the village but said seven fire tenders were put in operation to extinguish fire. "If the administration had ignited the fire to set the men ablaze, they would not have called firemen," he said, referring to the fire that had broken out on the night of May 7, the same day when four people-- two police personnel and as many farmers were killed in clashes during the agitation.

"The ashes of cowdung heaps and fields which were burnt in fire were not razed. Mediamen were allowed to enter the village and see the burnt-out materials," he said.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had on Monday alleged that huge heaps of ash carrying burnt bodies had been found in the villages where farmers were agitating for better compensation for their land acquired by Mayawati government.

He also showed the prime minister pictures purportedly of bodies burnt and other forms of violence against farmers and their family members. "Women have been raped, people have been thrashed. Houses have been destroyed," Gandhi had alleged.

Regarding the missing persons in the village, Commissioner (Meerut) Bhuvnesh Kumar said "Till date, only one person's missing complaint has been received. He was found to be admitted at a Delhi hospital." Kumar said several persons were not coming back to the village out of fear.

He, however, assured the villagers that no innocent person will be arrested. "We will identify the anti-social elements through video clippings and only the guilty will be arrested. No innocent person will be arrested," Mishra said.

District Magistrate Deepak Aggarwal said Section 144 had been lifted from Tuesday as normalcy was returning to the village.