Greater Noida: 2 policemen killed in clashes with farmers

Two policemen were killed and scores of others, including a District Magistrate and a Senior Superintendent of Police, were injured as fierce clashes erupted when security personnel tried to rescue three roadways employees held hostage by agitating farmers demanding better compensation for their acquired land.

The agitating farmers of Bhatta Parsaul village in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, a Delhi suburb, claimed that a protester was killed in police firing and several others were missing after the area witnessed pitched battles between villagers and security personnel for several hours. A large contingent of police,

Provincial Armed Constabulary and anti-riot personnel along with district officials descended on the village where farmers had on Friday taken hostage three roadways employees who were conducting a survey of a new bus route. However, the farmers, armed with sticks, allegedly attacked the personnel and pelted stones.

The police lobbed teargas shells to quell the mob and soon there was firing from both sides. Two jawans of the PAC were declared brought dead at Kailash Hospital. Doctors said they had bullet wounds. District Magistrate Deepak Aggarwal, who went to the village hoping to resolve the hostage crisis through talks, suffered a bullet injury and was rushed to Kailash hospital where he was operated upon, the police said. Officials said the DM's condition was stable.

Besides Aggarwal, others injured included an SSP, two Deputy SPs and a City Magistertae and five PAC men. The security personnel, however, rescued the three employees of the state-run bus service.

Blaming the Mayawati government for the violence in Greater Noida, the opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh alleged that it was indulging in "loot of farmers' land" and that the incident reflected the anarchy that prevailed in the state. "In the home district of Mayawati, farmers are being shot dead. Farmers' land is being acquired at throw away prices," UP Pradesh Congress Committee President Rita Bahuguna Joshi. "It is the government of looters and land acquisition has become their favourite pastime. People have lost their confidence in Mayawati," she added.

Supporting the agitating farmers, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the UP government of suppressing democratic movements in the state. "Whatever happened it is an example that the law and order situation has crumbled in Uttar Pradesh. It is an anarchy," a BJP spokesperson said.

Favouring a dialogue with the agitating farmers, the party said that due compensation should be given to them. The farmers have been agitating since January 17 for better compensation for their land acquired by the UP  government.

Meanwhile, the Jaypee Group on Saturday denied reports that the ongoing farmers' agitation in the city is related to any of their projects, including Yamuna Expressway and Formula One Motor Racing track developed at Dankaur near Greater Noida.