Farmers release abducted officials

Two senior government officials who were abducted on Friday by agitating farmers were released on Saturday, after the administration set arrested protesters free. Kapil Datta reports.

Two senior government officials who were abducted on Friday by agitating farmers were released on Saturday, after the administration set arrested protesters free.

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The two officials, who are associated with the Yamuna Expressway Authority (YEA), had gone for a meeting with the agitators, who were demanding a higher compensation for their land acquired by the state government for development work, including the Yamuna Expressway.

The kidnapped officials - deputy CEO of the Yamuna expressway authority RK Singh and deputy collector SP Singh - were kept at an unknown location. The incident has triggered panic among government officials and they fear the farmers may create problems when UP chief minister Mayawati visits Noida on Sunday.

"The officials were released after authorities agreed to release their leaders. We set all arrested farmers free," said Atul Saxena, superintendent of police.

"The agitators came to the meeting heavily armed. When the police tried to prevent them from carrying arms, they turned violent and damaged chairs and abducted the officers," said Saxena.

The police had resorted to lathicharge to control the mob. "We arrested a few who were indulging in violence," added the police official. In the melee, the farmers had taken away the two officials. "Additional force has been deployed at the village to avert escalation of violence," said Saxena.

Meanwhile, fearing action by the district administration farmers have intensified their agitation.